# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1912_S6
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

6 Proceedings of the twenty-fourth convention

passed. When the convention two years ago, in spite of my advanced age, again honored me with the office of chairman, I had a sense of good health and the hope that I would still be able to attend this convention here in Saginaw. But the dear God has decided otherwise. Toward the end of June I fell ill with an illness so severe and painful that I could not even attend the proceedings of my own synod here in Milwaukee. It has by now indeed improved a good deal, but still by no means so far that I could have ventured to travel to the convention of the Synodical Conference. This grieves me very much; I would gladly, beloved brethren, have taken leave in person of you and of the Synodical Conference that has become so dear to me; for when I consider that in a few months I shall be 88 years old, it is settled for me that I shall no longer be able to attend any convention of the Synodical Conference; so I must take leave by letter and do so herewith. I do so with sincere thanks that the dear Conference honored me for a full thirty years with the office of chairman and bore with my weakness patiently. And I do so further with the earnest prayer that the LORD, our God and Savior, may also in the future acknowledge the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference in North America, as He has done until now, and that, when the Church Militant is one day transformed into the Church Triumphant, we may see one another again there, joyful and blessed. And now may the LORD also be with His blessing in this convention! Amen. Amen. . . .

Reply Letter from Dr. F. Pieper.

Right Reverend President, dear father in Christ!

The convention of the Synodical Conference very much regrets that you, who for thirty years without interruption presided at its conventions, cannot be present at this convention. It regrets still more having to refrain from a re-election to the presidency, because you declare it impossible, on account of your great age, to attend another convention of the Synodical Conference. The Synodical Conference, however, expresses to you its heartfelt thanks for your esteemed letter, in which you not only wish it God's blessing for its present convention but also recall the blessed time of the founding of the Synodical Conference. You recall the great joy that filled all hearts when in the year 1872 the formation of the Synodical Conference came to its conclusion, and thereby such Lutheran synods as had until then stood strangers to one another and in part hostile to one another entered into church fellowship with one another. This remembrance has made a deep impression on the hearts of us all. We reflect that the Synodical Conference represents an ecclesiastical union that is in accord with the will of God. It is not a union on the basis of a humanly tailored platform, but a union on the basis of unity in Christian doctrine in all its articles. May God grant us grace,