# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S46
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 46 —

must regard, that God's Word forbids me to deal with them, or whether I can regard them as erring brethren. On the very same grounds that have been cited here in this Conference to prove why it cannot regard Schmidt as a member of the Synodical Conference, I could also say that I cannot negotiate with Missouri. 1. False doctrine; Schmidt is accused of it, and yet the false doctrine is on Missouri's side. 2. Schmidt is accused of judging hearts. Of that we have an abundance in the Missouri publications. And 3. faction-making; Missouri has agitated in its congregations and driven out the right teachers. Therefore Missouri now enters the stage where it is to be avoided as a heretic. But this question is not the most important to me. You regard it as the most important, I do not. For me there is a far more important matter, namely this, that the hurt of Israel be healed. Whether one has erred, failed and done all these evil things is not the main thing here in the Conference, but to heal the hurt of Israel. This truly most important matter the majority has hindered here; that I regret. It may be that I err in having come together with Missouri in the Synodical Conference; but in this I do not err, when I say that we here let the opportunity to heal hurts pass by, in order to occupy ourselves with less important things. Only when the matter of doctrine has been thoroughly discussed is it clear to me whether I am to regard one as a heretic or an erring brother or a good brother. But I see that here evidently another spirit rules than ought to rule according to the constitution."

To this the following was further replied: Pastor Muus keeps saying that we do not want to do the main thing. Where have we ever said that? On the contrary, we want to speak about the doctrine. Only then does our heart become glad and lively, when we can sink ourselves into the doctrine of the divine Word. But evidently Pastor Muus wants to be wiser than the dear God. For in God's Word it stands written: Avoid him! But Pastor Muus says: No! no! then the main thing would be suppressed, how can the Apostle Paul give such a loveless counsel! He does not consider that these words are written by the Holy Spirit; and that we will follow. Moreover we are also from the heart ready to speak about the doctrine with every brother who comes here. For with the individuals of the synods who have fallen into error we cannot deal in the Synodical Conference; that is the business of the synods concerned. But with a man who has been saying for two and a half years: You are not my brethren! we cannot and may not fraternize. But as soon as Prof. Schmidt calls us and says: We are all in the Christian church, can we not dispute with one another about the doctrine? — then we are ready. Therefore it is not true that we do not wish to speak about