# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_April 1857_S118
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

118 The General Synod of the Lutheran Church in Prussia of the Year 1856.

report, and this in turn was asked by the synod to compile its experiences
and principles, according to which it had proceeded in individual cases, for
the good of the church, and to bring them to its knowledge.

How important it now is for the church, also with regard to the future,
to provide for capable spiritual talents — since the office among us
particularly requires strength, resolve, and circumspection — is obvious to
everyone. Motions were therefore also brought forward concerning students of
theology. And unfortunately one had already had to make, with several of
them, the distressing experience that they had not fulfilled the hopes that
had been placed in them. It was resolved: an urgent appeal should be
communicated in the "Kirchenblatt," in which every pastor is impressed upon
his heart to see to it earnestly, in individual cases, that only capable
young men are singled out, encouraged, and trained for the spiritual office,
and parents should once again be impressed with the duty of nourishing their
children from youth up with the pure milk of the Gospel and of watching
over their souls in faithful upbringing for the kingdom of God.

The synod also devoted particular attention to the ordination of assistant
preachers. There was agreement on this point: through ordination the church
declares the fitness of the assistant preacher, and therefore it must proceed
with all caution in the matter. A period of probation must by all means
precede ordination. Very unpleasant conflicts could arise in particular if
ordained preachers were to return to their home districts from which they
had come to us as candidates.

An important motion, concerning the training of our teachers, consisted in
this: that the establishment of a Lutheran teachers' seminary be proposed.
The subject occupied the synod at length and animatedly, for the training
of our teachers in union seminaries has something objectionable about it;
cases have already occurred in which they were flatly turned away. It is
just as difficult to send them abroad. Yet here too the vexing question of
money again stood hindering in the way, and only a provisional resolution
could be reached: to refer the material of the commission's report to the
Superior Church Council for the time being. Until the needed assistance can
be provided, individual pastors shall be asked, and no doubt also charged,
to undertake the training of teachers.

Of similar content were other motions, from which the following resolution
was drawn: "The Superior Church Council is authorized to take suitable
steps so that children of Lutheran parents attending state educational
institutions be exempted from participation in union religious
instruction." Individual distressing cases and worrying experiences had
brought the urgency of such measures clearly to light. Every Christian in
general, and we Lutheran Christians in particular, must indeed bear in mind,
in our association and dealings with others, the little saying: Hæret
aliquid — "something easily sticks!" There is also much that weighs
oppressively in the in-