# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1908_S38
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

38 Proceedings of the twenty-second convention

"that the world may believe that thou hast sent me," John 17:21. And in the same prayer: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me," John 17:22, 23. It makes a mighty impression on the world when Christians unanimously bear witness in word and conduct to salvation in Christ. The Acts of the Apostles reports on this, chap. 4:32, 33: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. . . . And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all." Chap. 5:12-14: "And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women."

If, on the other hand, the world sees disunity among Christians, it is offended by it and strengthened in its unbelief. The same is to be said of the heterodox. If they see unity and cordial brotherliness in the orthodox Church, that can become a means by which they pay heed to the testimony of the truth and are thereby led over into the camp of the orthodox Church. But if they see that those who boast of orthodoxy bite and devour one another, they take occasion from it to dishonor God's honor and God's Word and to keep themselves separated from the orthodox Church. If anyone wishes to convince himself of the offense that is caused by the disturbance of the fellowship of brethren in the faith, let him only note the jubilation of the Romanists over the disunity of the Protestants; Luther's lament over the defection of the sacramentarians; the malicious glee of the adherents of the state churches over the disunity of the free churches; the jubilation of the General Synodists, Iowans and Ohioans when they think they notice discord within the Synodical Conference.

And what harm would be done by a disturbance of the fellowship of brethren in the faith in our own midst! Gal. 5:15: "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another!"

But what is necessary to preserve unity is: "Hold fast to humility," 1 Pet. 5:5.

By resolution the discussions of the fourth thesis were omitted from the minutes. The *Referat* [paper read to the convention] was accepted and the hearty thanks of the Synodical Conference (*Synodalkonferenz*) were voted to the author of the theses.