The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1911, Page 78

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48 'The Lutheran Pioneer.

Immanuel Conference at Meherrin, Va.

Immanuel Conference held its 21st session at
St. Matthew’s Church, Meherrin, Va., August
24—27. Professors, ministers, and teachers of the
Colored Mission laboring in North Carolina arrived
on the afternoon of the 23d, and were met by a
committee, who conveyed them in wagons, buggies,
and automobiles to the church and from thence to
their respective quarters.

On Thursday, at 10 a. a., the pastoral con-
ference was held. It was opened by singing a hymn
and by prayer, after which Rev. J. Koiner delivered
a short appropriate sermon on Ps. 133, 1—4, and
extended a hearty welcome to the brethren, to which
Prof. J. Ph. Schmidt responded. Thereafter Prof.
M. Lochner proceeded to read his paper on “Con-
fession and Absolution,” which had not been fin-
ished at the last session. This paper was discussed
at length. The afternoon session was begun with
devotional exercises in connection with a short and
edifying sermon by Rev. F. Ford based on 2 Cor.
5, 20; after which Prof. Lochner concluded his
paper on “Confession and Absolution,” which af-
forded comfort and instruction to the members of
Conference. The business of the pastoral confer-
ence was concluded on Friday and Saturday one
hour before public session. A committee was ap-
pointed to confer with Luther Conference, with a
view of compiling a common service, suitable for
all of our missions, so as to have uniformity in
services. Another committee was appointed to pro-
vide a uniform school-book list for our North Caro-
lina schools. It was resolved to make THE PIONEER
our home paper; and missionaries and teachers
were urged to get subscribers at their places, where
it had hitherto been distributed free. Conference
also recommended the Lutheran Guide as a Sunday-
school paper. Thursday night Rev. J. McDavid, of
Charlotte, N.~C., preached the pastoral sermon on
Joshua 1, 6—10. 5

Conference proper began Friday at 10 A. x.
The President, Rev. J..Koiner, conducted the de-
votional exercises, after which he extended a cordial
welcome to the Conference in the name of St. Mat-
thew’s congregation. Thereafter the rol] was called.
Director N. J. Bakke, Profs. J. Ph. Schmidt, F.
Wahlers, and M. Lochner, Revs. J. McDavid, J.
Koiner, J. Aiston, and F. Ford, and Teachers F.
Alston and E. A. Buntrock, responded to their
names. Revs. H. C. Messerli, W. H. Lash, and
W. O. Hill, Teachers E. Reed and M. Carter, were

absent. On account of the abnormal expenses there
were no delegates from North Carolina. Mr. N.
Holmes represented St. Matthew’s congregation.
After the reading and adoption of last meeting’s
minutes, Rey. C. P. Thompson, of Charlotte, N. C.,
and Rey. C. R. March, of Southern Pines, N. C.,
were received as members. Rey. C. Lauterbach was
present in every session of Conference as a guest.
Election of officers now followed. Rev. J. McDavid
was elected President; Rev. W. H. Lash, Vice-Presi-
dent; Rev. C. P. Thompson, Secretary and 'Treas-
urer. After the election of officers, committees were
appointed: Committee on program for next confer-
ence sessions, and one to revise the constitution.
Invitations for next conference came from Mount
Zion, at Rocks, N. C., St. Paul's, of Charlotte, and
Zion, of Gold Hill; the first was accepted.

Then Prof. J. Ph. Schmidt began his paper on
“Russellism,” which is the doctrine of a sect: known
as “Evangelical Alliance,’ founded 1846, whose
official organ is called The Fire of Zion, published
in Brooklyn, N. Y. ‘Their chief exponent is Pastor
C. 'T. Russell, formerly of Allegheny, Pa., now of
Brooklyn, N. Y. He has written several books, of
which the “Plan of Ages, or The Millennial Dawn,”
is the best known, as it is disseminated freely by
the Tower Publishing Co. His sermons are spread
widely in the daily press. A few of our members,
having read his sermons, had imbibed his heresies.
Conference wanted to refute his false doctrine,
which was ably done in the paper and in the dis-
cussions that followed. Space will not permit a
general outline. This paper was concluded in the
afternoon and night sessions.

Divine service on Friday night was conducted
by Prof. F. Wahlers, who preached on John 20!
21—23, answering the question, “Why do we still
hold fast to the doctrine of Absolution ?”

Saturday morning session was opened with de-
votional exercises by the chairman. The Program
Committee reported, and the following program
was adopted: 1. Sermon by C. R. March. 2. Paper
on “Duty of Membership Toward the Church.”
3. Sermon by Prof. M. Lochner. 4. Paper on “The
Doctrine of Baptism,” by Rev. J. McDavid. 5. Con-
fessional address by Rev. F. Ford. 6. Sermon by
Prof. J. Ph. Schmidt. 7. Sermon by Director N.
J. Bakke. 8. Sermon by Rey. W. H. Lash. After
all business had been transacted, Rev. J. Alston
read a very practical, timely, and interesting paper
on “Home Religion.” He divided his essay into
three parts: 1. What home religion is. 2. Why