# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1926_S198
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

148 Proceedings of Thitty-Third Regular Convention,

Recommendations of Committee No. 13 on the Lodge * Question.
(Overtures 407 and 408.)

“Wuereas, Present-day conditions demand a reaffirmation of our
position on the lodge question, therefore be it ,

1. “Resolved, That Synod go on record as being as firmly as ever
opposed to lodgery because of {ts unchristian and antichristian char-
acter; and be it further

2. “Resolved, That we hold it to be the solemn, sacred, and God-
given duty of every pastor properly to instruct his people on the sin-
fulness of lodgery in denying the Holy Trinity, the deity of Christ,
the vicarious atonement, and other Seriptural doctrines, and to induce
his congregation or congregations to take action against all members
who .after thorough instruction refuse to leave the lodge; and be
it further

3. “Resolved, That we deem it the duty of every fellow-Christian,
fellow-pastor, and especially of the officials of Synod to admonish all
pastors who neglect their duty in this respect; and if Christian
admonition has been administered in the spirit of Matt. 18 without
the proper results, the officials of Synod shall bring such cases to the
attention of the synodical District for further action; and be it
further -

4. “Resolved, That if congregations, after having received due in-
struction, refuse to take action against lodge-members, Synod shall
deal with them and eventually refuse them Christian fellowship; and
be it further

5. “Resolved, That Synod earnestly request the various synodical
Districts to carry out the above resolutions and faithfully to assist
their congregations in eradicating the lodge evil.

6. “Resolved, That we recommend to Synod that a Lodge Informa-
tion Bureau be created by Synod to furnish information, advice, and
literature concerning lodges; and be it further

4. “Resolved, That in order to clear up a number of questions of
congregational and synodical practise, suggested by Overtures 407
and 408, which your Committee could not sufficiently consider for
lack of time, and to attain that uniformity in practise which is still
lacking, your Committee recommends that the President of Synod
appoint a comimittee of nine capable and trustworthy men from
various parts of Synod who shall give these questions further study
and make suitable recommendations to Synod at its next session and
thus assure to our whole Church the blessed fruits of such continued .
study and discussion of this important question; to. which end also *
this committee shall be instructed to draw up the results of their

* By lodges we here mean secret societies having religious principles,
doctrines, or rites.