The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1910, Page 78

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

e.

48 ~ The Lutheran Pioneer.

Short Report of Synodical Conference.

Synodical Conference is the largest and only
strictly confessional body of Lutherans in our coun-
try. It is a union of those synods which in confes-
sion of faith and practice adhere strictly to the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the
inspired Word of God and the Confessional Books
of the Lutheran Church as the correct interpretation

of the same. From August 17 to 23 this Lutheran

body convened at Seward, Nebr., holding its sessions
in St. John’s Lutheran Church. Its chief business
was to hear reports of the colored mission, and make
provisions for its maintenance for the next two years.

The Conference began Wednesday. morning,

August 17, with impressive divine services, in which °

Rey. Prof. J. Schaller of Wauwatosa, Wis., preached
a very instructive and edifying sermon from 1 Tim.
1, 18. 19. In the afternoon the formal organization
tdok place with the presentation and examination of
credentials and the election of officers. Rey. John
Bading, the venerable President of Synodical Con-
ference, who has served thirty-three years as chair-
man, was reelected.

Thursday morning was taken up with doctrinal
discussions. Rey. W. Dallmann, of Milwaukee, Wis.,
read a paper on “The Honorable Appellations Ac-
corded the Christians in the New Testament.” Be-
ginning at St. Matthew, the essayist selected the
titles given to the Christian, defined them, and’
showed what duties they involved. Thursday after-
noon, among other business; the President of the
Mission Board for Colored Missions, Rey. H. Meyer,
made his biennial report. He had not concluded
the reading, of the report before adjournment of the
afternoon session. Thursday night the young people
of St. John’s Church gave a' musicale to the dele-
gates and visitors in the chapel of the seminary.

Friday morning the chairman of the Mission
Board concluded his report, and it was given to a
committee. Miscellaneous business was transacted
in the afternoon. At night, divine services were held
with celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Saturday morning the recommendation of the
Committee on Colored Missions reported, and Con-
ference proceeded to pass on it, but did not finish
before the adjournment at noon.

Sunday morning divine service was conducted
in the church, and in the afternoon a mission fes-
tival was held at the Fair Grounds. At the latter
place Prof. Mezger, of St. Louis, and the under-
signed spoke in the interest of Colored Mission.

At this and most of the other services liberal col-
lections were taken for the mission treasury.

Monday morning and afternoon both were given
to business. ‘The Conference passed on the recom-
mendations for the Colored ‘Missions. A vote of
thanks was extended to the members of the Mission
Board and the several editors of the mission papers
for their services. Among other resolutions it was
resolved to have a general superintendent for the
missions, who is to have oversight over them and
further their interests by bringing their needs to
the attention of the different synods and congrega-
tions. Luther College at New Orleans, La., was
changed from a seminary to a preparatory school,
where the young people will receive academic train-
ing and be prepared to enter Immanuel College at
Greensboro, N. C. Conference authorized the erec-
tion of a new building for the primary department
of Immanuel College. The intentions of Synodical
Conference now is not only to have the work among
the colored continued energetically, but to have it
spread out as fast as possible. ‘The interest for the
work is by no means lagging.

Monday night the venerable chairman, Rev. J.
Bading, preached the parting sermon from 1 Cor.
1, 4—9, after which he cordially thanked the kind
pastor of St. John’s Church, Rev. C. If. Becker,
and the hospitable members for their generous en-
tertainment of Conference. ‘The next sessions of
Synodical Conference are to be held two years
hence at Saginaw, Mich.

Synodical Conference has been conducting mis-
sion -work among the colored people for the past
thirty-three years. We now have 31 stations, 20
pastors and teachers, two colleges, over 3000 souls,
and 1500 children in’ day schools. May Almighty
God continue to bless our missions, and through
them bring many souls to Christ and salvation!

J. McoDavip.

SSE Eee

Immanuel Conference.

Immanuel Conference met for its twentieth con-
vention at Grace Church, Greensboro, N. C., August

-19 to 21." On August 17 and 18, the pastors and

teachers had private sessions in the office of Im-
manuel College. ‘The first three of these sessions
were devoted to the arranging of a schedule which

is to be used in all of our colored parochial schools

of this section of our country. Rev. H. Messerli
and Teachers I. Buntrock and M. Carter consti-