# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1905_S53
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Lutheran Pioneer.

53

Conference at New Orleans.

Our three stations at New Orleans, La., held
their annual conference at Bethlehem Chapel on
May 14, 15, and 16. The conference sermon was
preached by the Rey. F. J. Lankenau on Sunday
night. In his sermon he gave a graphic descrip-
tion of the Gospel and its power to save sinners.
The united congregations sang our dear old Lu-
theran hymns with a power and deep devotion
that could not fail in awakening the interest of
everyone present. Beth-
lehem choir, under the
direction of Mr. George
Wolf, rendered very well
a selection suited to the
occasion. The collection
raised on this evening,
amounting to $5.40, was
devoted to Luther Col-
lege, New Orleans. But
one thing remains to be
said, and that is, it rained
almost continually .all
that day and, of course,
the attendance was, in a
measure, a sufferer for it.
However, it must be said
that the attendance far
exceeded our expecta-
tion. About 80 adults and
20 children were present.

On Monday evening
the conference proper was
opened, the chairman,
Mr. Robert Dixon, calling
upon Rev. Lankenau to
offer the opening prayer.
After some routine busi-
ness had been dispatched,
a paper ‘‘On Christian Burial’? was read by the
undersigned. By recommendation of the confer-
ence committee, the meeting resolved to devote
the evening’s collection, amounting to $6.00, to
Immanuel College in North Carolina. Rain also
interfered at this session, yet there were some
twenty people more than on the preceding evening.

On Tuesday evening Rev. K. Kretzschmar was
to have lectured ‘“‘On Marriage and Divorce.’’ Ow-
ing to circumstances, however, we Were, for the
present, deprived of the pleasure of hearing his
lecture on this timely subject. In his place Rev.
Lankenau hastily prepared what turned out to be
a very instructive talk. His subject may be briefly

Colored Lutheran Chapel at Sandy Ridge, N.C.
} Dedicated Nov. 27, 1905.

summed up as ‘‘The two reasons for error in doc-
trine.’”? The first reason, or cause, from which
error rises is this: men will not accept the Bible,
the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible as the
foundation of doctrine. From this comes the sec-
ond great cause of error: men will not accept the
great central truth of the Bible, namely: ‘‘By grace
are ye saved through faith.”

On or about this day of the conference the Pro-
NEER arrived bearing the sad news that our breth-
ren in Salisbury, N. C., had sustained the loss of
their chapel, which had
been swept away by a
storm. One of the mem-
bers of the conference

therefore moved that

the evening’s collection,
$9.50, be devoted to our
stricken brethren. The
motion was carried in
heartfelt sympathy.
After this, conference re-
elected Mr. Rob. Dixon
chairman, and Mr. F.
Thompsonsecretary. The
attendance exceeded that
of the preceding evenings.
Bethlehem choir sang at-
both Monday’s and Tues-
day’s sessions.

These conferences are
of great benefit to our sta-
tions in more ways than
one, and are highly appre-
ciated byourmembersand
their friends, as the in-
creased attendances from
year to year abundantly
prove. J. KossMann.

True Strength of the Church.

“Free forgiveness through faith in Christ. This
is the doctrine which is the true strength of any
church. It is not orders, or endowments, or litur-
gies, or learning, or grand cathedrals that will keep
a church alive. Let free forgiveness through Christ
be faithfully proclaimed in her pulpits, and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against her. Let it be
buried or kept back, and her candlestick shall be
taken away.’’ c

“Tr we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign
with Him.’’ :