The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1918, Page 42

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. the number of the elect. God who has called and
justified us will also. glorify us, as the words of
Paul shov: “Whom He called, them He also justi-
fied; and whom He justified, them He also glori-
fied? (Rom. 8,80). And this fact, of which we
are so firmly persuaded, viz., that God will glorify
us in the future as He has called and justified us
in the past, should, in turn, convince us that He has
from eternity predestinated us; for “whom He did
predestinate, them He also called,” etc. So this
teaching tends to encourage and assure us of our
final salvation. It should, however, not make us
carnally secure. We should not rely on God’s
election in a carnal way. Let us never forget that
one of the ends for which God chose His own is that
they should lead a Christian life. Therefore we
should see to it that we follow after sanctification,
lest we deceive our own selves, have no faitli, and be
not Christ's sheep, God’s elect. Peter reminds us
that we should make our calling and election sure
by giving diligence to good things (2 Pet. 1, 10).

Tn this way Christians should draw the richest
comfort and an assurance of salvation, as well as
the most necessary warning and admonition, from
the blessed doctrine of predestination.

: H. OsterHvs.

Luther Conference. at New Orleans.

Luther Conference met in annual session in
Mount Zion Church May 9 to 12. After devo-
tion, in the first session, Chairman Meibohm de-
livered an address to the brethren on “The Time
and the Times.” ‘The roll-call showed that two of
the members were absent; but the next day all the
brethren laboring in the Louisiana field were present.
By the way, Rev. Berger, who has been recuperating
from his recent illness at his home in Mansura, La.,
passed through New Orleans on his way back to his
field in Alabama, and stopped over to attend one of
the sessions. He is in much better health, we are
_ - glad to say. nee [ : .

By unanimous yote the same officers were re-
elected. They are: Prof. H. Meibohm, Chairman;
_ eacher E. R: Vix, Vice-chairman; Teacher A. Ber-

_ ger, Secretary. It was with much pleasure that we
received as a member of Conference the Rev. Th.
" Schliepsiek, the new pastor of Mount Zion. Pastor
_. Schliepsiek has been with us only a short time, but
_ the God-given zeal and enthusiasm with which he
is working at Mount Zion is being commented on

The Lutheran Pioneer.

In the first morning session ‘Teacher Berger read
a eatechization on the Bible-story of “Stephen the
Martyr.” ‘This was a good paper, and it was dis-
cussed with much interest and profit. ‘Teacher Ber-
ger brought out something about taking the “long
route.’ which, I suppose, we who were there will
not soon forget. ‘The paper was concluded in the
afternoon.

The next morning Teacher D. Meibohm de-
livered a catechization on “The Holy Ghost — His
Person and Work.” ‘Teacher Meibohm is a veteran
catechist, and when he reads a catechization, there

* is not much more for us “youngsters” to do than to

bite, chew, and digest. Enough said.

The afternoon session on May 10th was a long
one. It was devoted principally to business. Much
was said on patriotism. This being our last closed
session, we naturally spoke of the war and our duty
to be loyal to the Stars and Stripes. As an expres-
sion of the loyalty of Luther Conference, the fol-
lowing resolutions were drawn up and ordered to
be spread upon the minutes : —

“\VWirerEAS, This our country is engaged in a
world-struggle for democracy and liberty; and

“\Waerras, The President in behalf of our be-
loved country has called upon all loyal citizens to

assist him to the fullest extent of their means and —

abilities to carry on this war for democracy and
‘freedom, and to bring it to a successful termina-
tion; therefore be it

“Resolved, That the undersigned Conference
through its President and Secretary pledge to our
Government its heartiest and fullest support; and
to this end be it furthermore

“Resolved, That we encourage our people to buy
Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps, and Thrift
Stamps to the limit of their financial resources;
and be it also

“Resolved, That we support the coming Second
Red Cross War Fund drive to the fullest extent of
our ability.

“Te LUTHER CONFERENCE OF THE Kv. Lura.

_CoLorED Mission or. LOUISIANA.”

Open sessions were held on the nights of May 9th
and 10th. Let me say right here that these open
meetings were a great improvement in attendance
over those of the past. Chairman Meibohm pre-
sided. Pastor G. M. Kramer and the undersigned
read papers. The former’s subject was historical,
treating of “Phe Gradual Transition of the Church
from the Spiritual to the Temporal.” It was rather
deep for an open meeting, but with the clear ex-