# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1877_S12
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 12 —

in Luther's time the councilmen were Lutheran. But we here have the so-called communal constitution [*Communalverfaſſung*]. There the office of the councilmen has passed to the members of the congregation.

Moreover, the children are not only the children of the parents but also of the church. Therefore the church has the holy obligation to do what the parents neglect. If these do not do their duty, they will be damned, but the church will also be called to account. The children in our congregations are baptized Christian children; they are our children; for only enthusiasts [*Schwarmgeiſter*] maintain that children do not belong to the church. If we were now not to concern ourselves about them, we would be conceding the point to the Anabaptists. No, we must also tell our children, they must know that they are baptized. If Luther came back today, how he would call to account the congregations that do not take care of their children!

Luther continues: "That it is not done by the parents has many causes. First, some are not so devout and honest that they would do it, even if they could. . . Second, the greatest part of the parents are unfortunately unfit for it and do not know how children are to be brought up and taught. For they themselves have learned nothing except to provide for the belly; and special people are needed to teach and bring up children well and rightly. Third, even if the parents were capable and would gladly do it themselves, they have, because of other business and housekeeping, neither time nor room for it, so that necessity compels us to keep common schoolmasters for the children. Unless each one wished to keep one of his own. But that would be too hard for the common man, and many a fine boy would again be neglected because of poverty. Besides, many parents die and leave orphans behind them; and how these are provided for by guardians, even if experience were too little for us, should show us well that God himself calls himself the father of the orphans, Ps. 68:5, as of those who are otherwise forsaken by everyone. Also there are some who have no children; they also take no interest in the matter. Therefore it is fitting here for the council and the authorities to take the greatest care and diligence for the young people. Look, for example, at what great diligence King Solomon showed in this, how he took care of the young people, so that among his royal business he also made a book for the young people, called Proverbs. And Christ himself, how he draws the little children to himself! How diligently he commends them to us and praises the angels who watch over them, Matt. 18:2 [as printed], so as to show us what a great service it is where one brings up the young people well, and on the other hand how terribly he is angry if they are offended and allowed to perish! Therefore, dear lords, take to heart the work which God so highly demands of you, which your office owes, which the youth so need, and which neither world nor Christian can do without."