# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1914_S77
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of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1914. 77

3. The committee that was to examine the report of the Joint Synod of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan for the year 1913 was divided in opinion. Prof. Joh. Theo. Müller reported that he had conscientiously examined the synodical report with its doctrinal proceedings on fellowship in faith and had found nothing in it that would be contrary to the Word of God and the Confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. — Pastor G. J. Wegener, on the other hand, reported: "Misgivings have arisen in me with regard to some of the statements, which I have not yet been able to get over; I therefore ask for time for further examination, or for the appointment of another committee member."

The convention resolved, with regard to this report, that it be left to the Reverend President to deal with the committee.

4. On the report of the Michigan Synod for the year 1910, the committee concerned had expressed two misgivings in its report two years ago (1912). The Conference had thereupon resolved to refer the matter to a committee that was to report at the next convention (1914) of the Synodical Conference [Synodalkonferenz]. The committee was at the same time also to deal with the question how far the criticism of a synodical report may extend to wording and expression. The committee consisted of Pastors W. Hagen, R. Smukal, F. Tresselt, H. C. F. Otte and C. Mikulski.

This committee upheld the report of the examining committee of 1912 and gave the grounds for its decision in a further report. Both reports were read; but the convention adopted no resolutions:

To the Reverend Synodical Conference of North America.

a. The undersigned committee, at the commission of the Reverend Presidium, has examined the report of the Reverend Ev. Luth. Synod of Michigan and Other States for the year 1910 and has found nothing in it that would be contrary to the Word of God and the Confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. b. In doing so we understand the statement about the image of God (p. 21, top) to mean that no new way of speaking of the image of God is to be introduced thereby, c. and likewise the statement about amusements (p. 52, in the middle) to mean that it is not to be denied there that in what is now "worldly" dancing, theater, and in playing for gain, those circumstances are always present through which these things become sinful. d. Subject of the doctrinal proceedings: "The Gospel of Christ, the Savior of Sinners, Is the Truth, the One Truth, in Which All Right Knowledge in Heaven and on Earth Is Rooted."

Respectfully
    Your Committee:
        Wm. Hagen.
Detroit, Mich., July 15, 1912.  R. Smukal.