# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_December 1860_S384
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

384 Church and Contemporary History.

Confession of the General Synod. — The Illinois Synod, at its last
meeting, from August 30th to September 4th, passed the following resolution, according to the Olive Branch:
"We wish respectfully to propose to the General Synod, at its next meeting,
that it take into consideration whether it would not be advisable to insert, in Article III,
Section 3, or at some other suitable place in its Constitution, a distinct
recognition of the Augsburg Confession, so
that no room be left for the reproaches of the opponents of the General Synod, who
have denied it a decidedly Lutheran character." So, then, for no further reason
than to have a pretext with which one may at least in appearance turn aside the
admonitions of the "Symbolists"? How this resolution, as well as the preceding
one, according to which the Illinois Synod takes its stand on the Augsburg Confession, is meant,
is also made clear from what follows, in which the members of the same pledge themselves
to abstain from disputing among themselves over "known differences of opinion." S.

The Melanchthon Synod. — On September 2nd Dr. Kurtz delivered, during
the meeting of the Melanchthon Synod, a sermon, the content of which was
approved by that body through an express resolution. In it he says, among other things: "Rebirth
through baptism, that is, the doctrine that children, who are as yet incapable of thought
and moral action, are regenerated in or through baptism, and therefore need no later
conversion, or that at least the seed is then implanted which ripens into
the new birth — all of this a piece of popish superstition; the 'real
presence,' or the impartation of Christ's body to the communicants in the Holy
Supper (in, con et sub, that is, in, with, and under the bread and wine), which I regard at bottom
as a mere paraphrase of consubstantiation, and in truth just as untenable
and absurd as transubstantiation itself: these are some of the wild fantasies
which have been picked up out of the dusty folios of erring fathers," etc. Where, then, does
the Doctor get his wisdom? S.

Description of Dr. Schmucker. — In the Observer an L. K. writes:
"I am also personally acquainted with Dr. Schmucker. He is in many respects a very
remarkable man. 1. As a man physically. He carries his age better
than anyone I have ever seen; he looks so well, and seems so young and so
active, as twenty years ago. 2. As a man intellectually. Very
few minds are more educated or more filled with knowledge, and no one has a more
amiable disposition or a more even temper. In the hottest debate or
under the most exciting circumstances he is always as calm as a May morning. 3. As a
writer and preacher he is more widely and more advantageously known than any other in
the Lutheran Church of this country. 4. As a theological professor he has few who
equal him, and none who surpasses him in any church of this country. He is, by
education, art, and nature, distinguished and qualified for the position he holds." —
How fortunate art thou, O Achilles, that thou hast found a Homer! S.

The Eastern Ohio Synod and the Rite of Baptism. — Since preachers of the
Eastern Ohio Synod have, where it was requested, performed baptism by immersion,
this synod, at its last meeting, at the end of September, has resolved no longer
to permit this, but to remain strictly with the rite of the Lutheran Church. S.

Errors of the Previous Number.

Page 350, line 12 from the bottom, instead of: Scherffs — read Schaffs.
" 351, " 22, " from the top, " Folge — read nicht Folge.
" " , " 13, " " , " Bruggen — read Beuggen.
" 321, " 3, " from the bottom, " des Hrn. — read Hrn.