# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1905_S159
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

11th Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1905. 159

"So how did the hearing proceed on the charges brought by President Niemann against Pastors A. and E. v. Schlichten?

"President Niemann was the accuser. The Synod of the Central District, assembled at Indianapolis, Ind., in 1904, was the judge. Pastors A. and E. v. Schlichten were the accused. The accuser brought his charge before the judge. The judge heard the accuser's alleged presentation of proof and then, on all three points, convicted the accused. — And what was the defense of the accused?

"Dear fathers and brothers, you will find no defense anywhere in the Central District's entire report of 1904.

"Did the accused, then, not wish to appear before their judge; did they not wish to defend themselves? They certainly did wish to; they declared themselves ready, again and again, to answer openly and freely before their judge, the Synod of the Central District. Why did this not happen? Because the defense was not allowed.

"Before the hearing, the accused had already been declared outside [the Synod] by the president, who was at the same time the accuser; their names were not read at roll call; they were denied seat and vote; they were not permitted to answer, before their judge, what the accuser said and testified against them.

"The accused, who were only temporarily suspended, wished to remain with their Synod; they had lodged vigorous protest against their suspension; they intended to defend themselves before their judge; they offered to do so — but the judge would not hear them, and convicted the accused without summoning them and without hearing them.

"A committee, to which the declaration of suspension along with the three charges had been given for its opinion, did indeed, on its own authority, summon before itself the accused whom the Synod had already declared outside before the hearing — but how could the accused, who were supposed to be brothers no longer, appear before a committee of the Synod, since they were not permitted to appeal from the committee to the Synod, or to defend themselves before the Synod as their judge? A committee report, too, can be an accuser, and often is one, and where an accuser has the right to bring a charge, the accused must likewise have the right of defense. And this right was denied the accused despite their request.