# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S48
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 48 —

Fifth Session.
Friday afternoon, 6 October.

After this debate the vote was taken on the formulated resolution of the committee. The Synodical Conference raised it to its resolution. Only Pastor Muus voted against it. Pastor Koren then announced that at the proper time and place he wished to give a declaration in his own name and in that of other Norwegian delegates, and that this be permitted him.

After it had further been resolved to put to Prof. Schmidt now the question whether he was willing to fulfil the conditions demanded, the president of the Synodical Conference rose and addressed Prof. Schmidt as follows:

"I put these questions to you now in the name of the Synodical Conference. You have heard the conditions under which it is possible for us to grant you, as delegate of the Norwegian Synod, seat and vote in the Synodical Conference. Are you ready to pronounce a plain, sincere and honest Yes, that you will fulfil these conditions and set yourself forth as a penitent Christian who repents from the heart ever having expressed himself as is evident, and that you have accordingly also broken into our congregations?"

Thereupon Prof. Schmidt answered as follows: "I cannot possibly answer this question with a mere Yes or No. If I might be permitted to add only a few words! I have come here on behalf of my Synod. It belongs to this fellowship of the Synodical Conference. It is my highest court. Protests have been raised here. For my part I think nothing other than that I must have the right to defend myself; that I must be given opportunity to answer these accusations. I could indeed answer briefly also these questions, but not with a mere Yes or No. For my own part I demand it of this Synodical Conference, as the first assembly that has gathered here since the outbreak of the controversy and before which I am accused. The Norwegian Synod, which has never taken me into doctrinal and church discipline, can also demand it. I should therefore like to ask that I be given, on the one hand, an answer to the question: whether on the basis of my credential as delegate of my Synod, which has sent me here in full awareness of the true state of affairs, it is permitted me to defend myself? and secondly: whether, if I give an answer, I may also explain it?"

To this it was answered that this goes further than our inquiry. For it is only a question whether Schmidt denies having done that on account of which he is to be excluded from seat and vote in the Synodical Conference. If he admits that, as he must, if