# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Februar 1864_S59
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Church News of the Day. 59

Now, as regards what you should show him officially and in conscience, should he further apply for communion after this affair, and in particular you have asked us in petition to disclose our judgment: we accordingly let you know hereupon that, according to the circumstances you have indicated and the reasons you have furnished, we consider that you have hitherto had good warrant and right to refuse N. absolution and communion; nor do we think it amiss of you if you should once more persist in such refusal until the matter is settled, meanwhile earnestly admonishing him that, without further delay, he should establish his innocence at law, and in this matter attend properly and well to his own conscience and salvation, lest, by misusing judgment, he bring down upon himself the vengeance and punishment of God, the righteous judge who sees into what is hidden, and make his judgment and damnation the heavier. If it is more a matter to N. of the salvation of his soul than of an outward appearance of innocence before people in seeking communion, he will doubtless take the utmost pains not to hinder his own welfare by contrived evasion and prolongation of the process. And if you then, along with sufficient warning, give him the assurance that, while the process is pending, in case of necessity or mortal illness the comfort of God's Word and of the Holy Supper shall not be denied him, we hold that you will have done enough in the matter, and that he is not entitled to press you further. As to your church order, a clearer report would have been necessary for us, but we consider that, if N., after establishing his innocence, were admitted to communion, it could fittingly be represented, to his and your credit, from the pulpit, or however is customary with you, that the aforementioned N. had abstained from communion until now not out of contempt, but on your counsel and judgment, arising from weighty considerations, and that no one else is entitled to excuse himself by his example. This is given you in answer to your request, and you are commended to divine grace.

(See Thesaurus consiliorum of Oedekennus, Vol. I, Part II, Fol. 331.)

Church News of the Day.

I. America.

The Lutheran Observer and the Missouri Synod. The first-named paper expresses itself about our Synod, in its issue of December 25 of last year, as follows: “There is also a small German Lutheran congregation of the Missouri Synod in Washington City. Its members are, as is said, pious and zealous people. There is much that is excellent and worthy of imitation in almost all the churches of the Missouri Synod. What we commend is their thorough searching of the Scripture, their deeply religious experience, their exemplary Christian conduct, and their zealous exertions to build up Lutheranism in this land. In these particulars they are the equal of our General Synod Lutherans. We are heart and hand with them in these matters. Would that all German Lutherans imitated their example in these