# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1890_S5
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1890. 5

The President welcomed them most warmly and expressed the hope that the dear Norwegian brethren might not appear much longer as guests at the meetings of the Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*], but soon as full members.

Total of voting members.............. 59
" " advisory members............ 88
" " guests...................... 4
Total............................. 151

The Election of Officers

for the next two years had the following result:

Pastor Joh. Bading, President.
Pastor M. Tirmenstein, Vice-President.
Pastor C. J. T. Frincke, Secretary.
Director E. A. W. Krauß, Secretary for the Doctrinal Proceedings.
Mr. H. A. Christiansen, Treasurer.

Ten sessions were held in all. Each of them was opened with a hymn, the reading of a passage of Scripture and prayer, and closed with the Lord's Prayer. Pastor C. C. Schmidt of St. Louis, Mo., served as chaplain. On Monday, the second-to-last day of the sessions, a closing service was held in the evening in the church of Vice-President M. Tirmenstein. The sermon was preached by President Albrecht of the Venerable Minnesota Synod.

Doctrinal Proceedings.

The Doctrinal Proceedings were based on a *Referat* [paper read to the convention] by Prof. A. Ernst on the doctrine of civil government (*Obrigkeit*). It was discussed in seven sessions.

The essayist prefaced it with the following introductory remarks: Among us there is no dissension over the doctrine of civil government. But because of the new school laws in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois we Lutherans are compelled to take a public position, since for conscience' sake we cannot submit to them in every respect. From many quarters we are attacked on this account and falsely accused. Great attention is being paid to everything that is said, written and resolved by us. It is therefore important, indeed necessary, that we, as the representatives of so great a church body as the