# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S35
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 35 —

Dowidat now wrote to Prof. Schmidt that he would receive an invitation from a majority, but that he hoped Prof. Schmidt would have so much respect for God's Word that he would not, despite his protest, interfere in his congregation. He sent a similar letter also to Pastor Allwardt. Prof. Schmidt did not answer at all. Pastor Allwardt, on the other hand, wrote: "It goes without saying that I shall come," etc. When the meeting came, both appeared, Schmidt and Allwardt, with an armful of books before the congregation. Pastor Dowidat protested anew before the whole congregation. It is to be noted that the congregation had until then never accused Pastor Dowidat of any false doctrine. A sermon on election on the same Sunday had been so judged even by persons who belonged to the opposing party that they declared: Yes, that is quite right. Prof. Graebner and President Bading, who were present at the meeting, now also protested against the interference of Prof. Schmidt and Pastor Allwardt and grounded their protest in God's Word, adding two sayings of Luther in which he speaks sharply against interference in another's office. Schmidt and Allwardt were thus indeed unable to bring about the presentation of their false doctrine, but were compelled to speak about the grounds of the protest; but they sought nevertheless to justify themselves, and the meeting was finally closed in tumult and another appointed for 14 days later. It may be mentioned of this first meeting: Pastor Dowidat, in the grounding of his protest before the congregation, had let fall the words: Then you would first have to depose me before you can call in other persons to help. Pastor Allwardt made use of this to call out to the congregation: Pastor Dowidat has himself shown you the way you are to go. In the second meeting the majority then resolved to leave the Synod and deposed Pastor Dowidat. Prof. Schmidt later preached to this fallen-away crowd.

Thereupon Pastor Muus said: "I must say, for the honor of the Synodical Conference: When one wishes to pass judgment with the non-appearance of one party, no sensible man will regard this as a lawful judgment."*)

On the part of the Missouri Synod it was now further remarked: there were

*) This remark of Pastor Muus had not been included by the secretary in the prepared minutes. But since Pastor Muus demanded its inclusion, it was resolved to include it with the remark: "Pastor Muus declared concerning the words: 'with the non-appearance of one party,' that he had said or had meant to say: 'without wishing to hear the other party.' But since his speech had been taken down by a skilled stenographer, the Conference adhered to the stenographer's record."