# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1859_S151
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Eulogy on the General Synod. 151

he would find more of his spirit, more of his character, more zeal for souls, more zeal for the truth, a more courageous struggle with the Pope, the devil, and their works — more of all the noble elements peculiar to the great Reformer — than anywhere else. If therefore any part of our brethren, be they Scandinavians, Germans, or Americans, presume to call the Lutheran character of the General Synod into doubt, we cannot help but pity them for their misunderstanding, or despise them for their haughty presumption. It would be far better for our Scandinavian Lutherans in Wisconsin to gather around the institutions at Springfield, where a Scandinavian professorship has already been established, than to talk of founding a Norsk College in their own state; and better to become at once a part of the General Synod than to give themselves over to prejudices and false representations concerning it. We can assure them that the General Synod is a sound Lutheran fellowship, true and faithful; and if they themselves are good Lutherans, we will welcome them into our ranks. If Scandinavians, or Germans, or Frenchmen, or Irishmen, or Scots emigrate to this land, they should come with the resolve to become Americans in spirit and language as quickly as possible. They should cherish a love for the institutions of this country. If they come with a churchly disposition, they should accept the Church as they find it here. Since they have a Lutheran Church in this land, all our Lutheran immigrants should unite with the Lutheran Church as it exists in this land, and enter with heart and in full number into the Lutheran fellowship in America. They can do so with confidence, for they find here a Lutheran Church that is pure, evangelical, orthodox, full of interest in all the affairs of the kingdom of Christ, and in harmony with the spirit of our political institutions. It is futile here to try to introduce European institutions or to preserve European languages. The American language and the American churches will hold sway in this land. It is schismatic for Lutherans to form a body in opposition to the General Synod, which has a foundation broad enough and good enough for all Lutherans in this land, whether native-born or born abroad."

To this we take the liberty of adding that protestation with which Luther introduces his Confession of Faith of 1528: "Should anyone after my death say: If Luther were living now, he would teach and hold this or that article otherwise, for he did not consider it sufficiently, etc. — against this I say now, as then, and then as now: that by God's grace I have most diligently considered all these articles, drawn them through Scripture and back again many times, and would defend them just as surely as I have now defended the Sacrament of the Altar. I am not now drunk, nor inconsiderate; I know what I am saying; I am also well aware