# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_December 1864_S376
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

376 The Theological Conflict Now Breaking In Upon the General Synod.

its doctrinal basis. In many respects it falls decidedly short of the
liturgy of the New York Synod, but it is far more liturgical than the
New York book, and its general adoption is therefore more probable. It
is of the highest importance that the friends of the General Synod
apply the same diligence as the Pennsylvania Synod toward producing a
good liturgy. Some of the church's best talents should undertake this
work. Not every theologian, not every good writer, can compose good
forms of public worship and church order, or even merely compile them.
Neither the New York nor the Pennsylvania liturgy — least of all that of
the General Synod — satisfies us; we consider none of them worthy of the
church. A church possessing such a literature, such treasures of
theological and devotional writings in German, Latin, and other
languages as ours does, ought to produce a better liturgy for its
English-speaking children in America than any that has yet appeared in
the English language. We think the right man for this task has not yet
taken up his pen. Nor will such a man appear, unless earnest studies,
accompanied by prayer, are first devoted to this work. So far it
appears that the Ultra-Confessionalists have occupied themselves more
earnestly with liturgical literature than have the friends of the
General Synod.

A catechism is, as a rule, only a small book, but one of powerful
influence. Luther's Small Catechism will probably never be displaced.
But in this age and in this land of literature for the young, of Bible
classes and Sunday schools, a good catechetical exposition alongside the
Lutheran catechism is a necessary requirement for catechetical
instruction. The Pennsylvania Synod has issued such a book on its
doctrinal basis. There is now a loud call for an equally good, or even
better, book on the doctrinal basis of the General Synod.

What we have said about liturgy and catechism applies equally to the
hymnbook. Great progress has been made in hymnology in recent years.
And since the friends of a rigorous symbolism are earnestly intent on
supplying their part of the church with books of this kind of high
literary merit, the friends of the General Synod cannot remain idle
without putting their cause at risk. In no field — whether theological
and literary, or periodical, or liturgical and catechetical — should
the General Synod fall behind the other party. We, for our part, have
the necessary talents and the fund of learning to compete with the
others, and we believe the time has come when the best gifts will be
put into action.

The great theological conflict has broken out. Not that we fear a
schism from it; the Lutheran Church (?) does not split over differences
of opinion. Even rationalism and unbelief have produced no rupture
(God graciously preserve us from