# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1935_S226
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Ey. Luth. Synod of. Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1935. 915

Above are listed only those orders whose present status had to
be established by correspondence. Regarding most others the fact is
definitely fixed by their current literature, notably so in the case of
the Freemasons, Odd-Fellows, Eastern Star, Elks, Moose, and Red-
-men. The ritual of the Order of De Molay is now on file and marks
- this order as deistic. Membership in it cannot be tolerated. —

Investigation of a number of lodges has brought out the fact that
some have modified their ritual and their admission requirements to
a greater or lesser extent, thus creating new problems in the dealings
with members of such organizations. Questions that now demand an
answer are: Has the order eliminated all religious features? Has it
eliminated the typical lodge ceremonial (oaths, prayers, chaplain,
- altar, etc.), while still retaining objectionable religious sentiments?
Do they distinguish between fraternal members (obligated on the
ritual) and a beneficiary class, which is not initiated? It is evident
that where objectionable features remain, we cannot ignore member-
ship in such an order. Your Bureau has received the impression that
in all parts of our Synod ministers approach also these new problems
with the determination not to make any concessions in our lodge
policy and avoid the giving of offense.

Your resolution of 1932 reads: “that this Bureau of Information
be asked to compile, to supply as requested, and, if necessary, to
publish all official pronouncements of Synod on its lodge practise.”
(Proceedings, pD. 176.) Pursuant to this resolution a study has been
made of all articles that appeared in our Synodical Reports, in Lehre
und Wehre and in the Lutheraner from the beginning until 1878.
Page-by-page search was made in these records, and summaries and
extracts were made of every official reference to the lodge during
these first forty years of our history. In order to serve a practical
purpose, all this material was translated, which constitutes a manu-
script of about 15,000 words. It may be said in general that during
the forty years so far reviewed the expression of our Church was
unanimously against the lodge and against all toleration of lodge-
members, but also against a legalistic, mechanical operation with
lodge resolutions, paragraphs, and principles. Our present policy, as
formulated in 1929 and 1932, is in agreement with the early attitude
of our Synod.

These resolutions are being translated into practise. There is
no weakening of our Synod on the question of secret orders. What is
most encouraging is the gradual elimination of the lodge evil from
areas in which for a time it had taken a foothold. Congregations
and pastors that have, with a charitable, yet resolute spirit, attacked
this problem, deserve a synodical vote of commendation.

On the other hand, the decay of the secret societies becomes more