# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1898_S13
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1898. 13

the custom came about that sponsors are called *susceptores*, godparents, likewise spiritual fathers, but the baptized children spiritual children. . . .

"It is a common custom that neighbors and friends congratulate the one who becomes godfather and is to lift a child from baptism, and also offer him honor. This custom has undoubtedly come about, first, because they considered the dignity of the office of godfather better than is done now. For they understood that this office is not to be offered to just anyone, but only to those whose faith, love of all godliness and blameless life were known to everyone. Therefore it is only right that no one should object to reporting the invited godfather to the minister, so that he may hear whether he is to be admitted or not."

Austrian Church Order of 1571: "Likewise the godparents shall remain, who for three reasons have now for over 1400 years been asked to baptisms. First, as witnesses, . . . on which account in some churches this praiseworthy custom is also kept, that the names of all who are baptized, and of their godparents, are entered in certain registers, after the example of the ancients. . . .

"Second, that alongside the parents they bring the little child to our Lord Christ by prayer and holy baptism, renounce the devil and the world in its place, confess the Christian faith, and, as sureties for the little ones, vow that they will faithfully keep what they have promised to our Lord God in baptism through the sponsors.

"Third, that afterward they step into the place of the parents and remind their godchildren of the promise which they made in baptism, and of the covenant which they made with God, and faithfully instruct them in true knowledge and invocation of God, and accustom and bring them up in it."

Lower Saxon Church Order of 1585: "And it is useful to know that godparents are called chiefly for three reasons. First, that they shall be witnesses for the baptized, to their benefit, that in their young years they were baptized and rescued from the devil's power. . . .

"Second, for the sake of prayer, that alongside the parents and others they bring the little child to the Lord Christ in holy baptism through prayer, confess the Christian faith into which the child is baptized, renounce the devil and all his ways, and in all things become sureties in the child's place, that all that was vowed to God in baptism by the sponsors the little ones, when they come to their years, shall faithfully perform for God.

"Third, that for the time of their lives, as spiritual parents, they shall remind the baptized of their baptism and faithfully admonish them to perform their baptismal vows to God, and also see to it that the children are brought up in a Christian way, especially where their parents might be taken from them by death."