# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1920_S21
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1920. 21

[Printed in English.]
providence of God, has terminated a controversy of many years’ duration, may have time to be strengthened in the unity of faith and brotherly understanding, which by the aid of God we have attained.’ ”

The receipt of this letter was acknowledged by your committee on 25 February 1918, with the promise that this last answer that has been given us would be communicated to the Rev. Synodical Conference at its convention in August 1918. Since that convention had to be omitted, this answer is communicated to the present convention as the final result of all the efforts of your committee to carry out the commission given it at Saginaw in 1912 to the Norwegian Synod. The commission remains unfulfilled, and the union of our former Norwegian brethren in the faith with Norwegian church bodies which had stood in opposition to the Synodical Conference has been carried out on a basis which the Rev. Synodical Conference has declared it cannot approve.

Your committee has made persistent attempts to bring about a truly Christian-brotherly discussion with our former Norwegian comrades in faith and in struggle, and by God's grace, despite many disappointments which it had to experience, has not let itself be diverted from the ground of patience on which all admonition among Christians ought to take place. That all attempts have remained practically without result no one regrets more than your committee, which now wishes to return its mandate to the Rev. Synodical Conference, so that it may decide whether further steps are necessary in this matter, and discharge your committee.
W. H. T. Dau.
F. Pieper.
Th. Schlüter.

In the discussion of this matter it was pointed out that our efforts of eight years in this matter sprang only from our duty of love to admonish the brethren. The endeavor of our committee was at all times to conduct the negotiations in such a way that no odium could fall on us even as to manner and method. Although the situation often seemed hopeless, it has nevertheless kept all patience. The result is nonetheless zero. But still the Synodical Conference holds out its hand. Our hand has not yet been accepted.

Yet the matter must be brought to a conclusion, precisely also for the sake of the conscience of those Norwegians who have remained faithful to the Word of God and to the Confession.

The report of our committee was therefore accepted and the committee dismissed with a vote of thanks for its faithful and patient services.