# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1857_S200
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

200

(From the "Freimund.")

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

(Conclusion.)

Finally our gaze turns to one more important object directed outward, one which might seem to lie farthest from us, inasmuch as it concerned precisely those who have hitherto confronted us in the Prussian territorial church in perhaps the most repellent and hostile way, but who are nonetheless our own flesh and blood — which is why their position toward us aroused the deepest interest in the bosom of the synod.

From the Posen diocesan conference, namely, a motion had been introduced, reading as follows:

"Let the synod undertake the consideration of what may be done on our part so that, with God's help, a truly churchly union may be sought with those members of the Prussian territorial church who sincerely have the Lutheran confession at heart, and accordingly let it issue a testimony in which, together with an acknowledgment of what binds the Lutherans of the territorial church to us, it is openly set forth what separates us from them for conscience' sake, and in which both sides are summoned to strive for the healing of the breach."

How important the matter was to the synod, and how deeply it was weighed in the heart — since indeed no wish can lie nearer to us than that the true Church of the pure Word and Sacraments may extend her borders everywhere, and especially that in our dear fatherland she may again enter upon and take possession of her former, her chartered right and territory — was shown not only in the lively debate but also in the circumstance that this took up two whole days.

When the discussion was opened, Herr von Thadden-Trieglaff declared himself thus: it was his wish and intention that everywhere a Lutheran church arises and exists, we should put ourselves in connection with it. He must also protest against the shameful slander that lies in giving us out to be sectarians and separatists on account of our poverty; but where the Donatist sect-devil really does appear among us, there he would have the exorcism applied against it at once.

Pastor Crome acknowledges the obligation to clear ourselves of the reproaches generally made against us; only this must be done negatively, by the testimony: We take no pleasure in the separation and lament it, nor have we separated from you on account of the territorial-church government; but we can only bear witness and pray. We stand, and you must come.

Dr. Besser says: in every approval of the way taken by the Lutheran associations there lies a twofold sin against the Lord and against the brethren, who will not walk the way of deliverance out of the Union that the Lord has opened...