The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1909, Page 79

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

79

The Master’s Call.

Up and be doing! the time is brief,
And life is frail as the autumn leaf.

The harvest is white, and the field is wide,
And thou at thine ease may’st not abide.

The Master has given His pledge divine:
Who winneth souls as the stars shall shine.

Oe

Meeting of Immanuel Conference.

Immanuel Lutheran Conference met in Salis-
bury, N. C., August 19. On Thursday, the pastors
and teachers had their private conference. In this
conference such matters were discussed as will serve
for the spiritual edification of our congregations.
A very practical paper was read by M. N. Carter,
of Concord, N. C. The subject was: “How to
Eradicate the Unionistic Tendencies of Our People.”
The essayist brought out some very good and strong
points, and the paper was discussed fully by the
brethren of the conference. A constitution for our
colored Lutheran churches of the South was also
read and adopted. On Thursday night a good and
appropriate sermon was preached by Rey. S. J.
Alston, of Mount Pleasant, N. C.

Friday morning, at 10 o’clock, the public ses-
sions of conference began. Rey. W. H. Lash ex-
tended a cordial welcome to all the pastors, dele-
gates, and visiting friends. Rev. Prof. J. Ph.
Schmidt responded. The entire morning session
was utilized for the transaction oft business relative
to the conference. Friday evening? a paper on
“Unionism” was read by Rev. John McDavid, of
Charlotte. He proved in the first place that all
Christians, of whatever denomination, were invis-
ibly united inasmuch as they all have the same faith
in Christ Jesus, the spiritual Head of the Church.
The essayist stated what kind of faith makes one
a member of that spiritual union. First of all were
stated the different kinds of faith that do not make
one a member of that body, viz., the faith of the
Universalists, the Roman Catholics, head faith, in
short, any faith that is not based on Christ Jesus.
Only faith in Jesus, the Savior, makes one a member
of this invisible union. In his second thesis the
essayist proved that it is the will of God that there
should be only one true visible Church here upon
earth. It is the duty of every Christian to find out
which is the true visible Church, and, having found
it, he should connect himself with it. It also was
stated by the essayist that the true visible Church
is that which teaches the whole counsel of God

according to the Scriptures. The essayist showed
in the third place that since there are many who
out of ignorance do not remain in the Word of God,
but are led away by false teachers and false churches
and thereby leave the true visible Church, it is our
duty to shun them, not associate with them, not to
go to their churches nor take part in their false
services. It was stated that the Lutheran Church
has never caused dissension and strife in the Church.
We as Lutherans would gladly see the. churches
unite. We believe in union, but union based solely
and alone upon the Word of God. If any union is
brought about, therefore, the false churches must
come to us and not we to them; they must give up
their false doctrines and accept the doctrines of our
church, which are the doctrines of Scripture. This
paper is one of vital importance, and all the pastors
and delegates took a lively interest in discussing it.

Friday night a sermon was preached by the -
undersigned on Deut. 32, 11. 12.

Saturday morning the pastors and delegates
spoke of plans whereby we can improve the financial
condition of our congregations. We must do more
in the future towards contributing to the cause of
Christ than we have done in the past. And this we
should do because it is our duty as Christians, and
because God has given us such a great gift, His
own Son, to suffer and die for us.

Saturday night an entertainment was given in
honor of the brethren of the conference and the visit-
ing friends, at the residence of Rev. Lash.

Sunday morning a sermon was preached hy
Rev. J. Ph. Schmidt on Luke 18, 9—14. He took
for his theme: “How Should We Come into the
Presence of God?” 1. Not as the Pharisee, but
2. as the Publican. Sunday afternoon a soul-stir-
ring sermon was preached by Rev. Prof. N. J. Bakke
on Rey. 2, 4. 5. His theme was: “The Charge of
Jesus, Thou Hast Lost Thy First Love.” The
speaker pointed out in the first place what that first
love is, and how it declines. Secondly, he showed
how this love can be restored. Sunday night, be-
fore a large, intelligent audience, Rey. Prof. Loch-
ner preached a good sermon on prayer, basing his
remarks on Luke 11, 1—13. After the sermon
Sunday night Rev. John McDavid thanked the mem-
bers of the congregation and the kind friends of
Salisbury for so highly entertaining the conference
and for treating us all so hospitably, Rev. W. H.
Lash responded very eloquently. All these services
were well attended, and many were greatly benefited
by the instructions given.”