The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1922, Page 19

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

19

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In the Ritual of the’ Knights of Pythias you
may read: “Keep sacred the lesson of to-night;
and so live, that when you come to the river that
marks the unknown shore, your hands may be filled
with deeds of charity, the golden keys that open the
palace of eternity.”

In the Credo of the Loyal Order of Moose this
statement may be seen: “I wish to live here and
now up lo my highest and best, believing that this
is the fillest preparation for a life to come.” In
their Memorial Services the Moose Dictator says:
“To the brothers who live faithful to the broad and
beautiful precepls of our order, there is no sting in
death nor viclory for the grave.” Every good
Moose goes to heaven on his own merits, according
to these expressions.

These quotations could be multiplied, but suffice
it here to say that in doing so we could only repeat
what has been said in the above citations. All
lodges teach this same salvation by works. They
put God’s plan of salvation aside, and in its place
put mere moral teachings enforced by material
symbols. ‘To the careful observer it is plain that
they all have systematically planned to do away
with atonement through the blood of Jesus Christ
and to lead the poor sinner to trust in himself on
the awful Day of Judgment, with no hope except
what his miserable, paltry righteousness has been
able to get for himself. ‘There are, no doubt, mem-
bers of lodges by the millions who are thus learning
to believe that they can be saved without Jesus’
bloody merit, by practising this or that virtue, con-
trary to the plainest teachings of Scripture. Yes,
thus there are millions who are being insidiously
led to trample the blood of Christ under foot and
to despise and reject the Lamb of God, who alone
can take away the sins of the world. O the pity
of it! Who can withhold his tears when he thinks
of the millions whose faith in God’s grace and
Christ’s redeeming merits is thus shipwrecked!
Who that sees the awful danger can be silent and
refuse to lift his voice in warning, in admonition,
in entreaty and appeal? F. J. 1.

Luther Conference.

Luther Conference convened for its midwinter
sessions on December 28 and 29 at St. Paul’s
Chapel, Prof. H. Meibohm, pastor.

' In accordance with the usual custom, Professor
Meibohm, chairman, delivered a brief opening ad-

‘College, delivered the confes-

dress.
4, 13.

The Rev. G. M. Kramer, of Bethlehem Chapel,
then read a catechization on Qu. 177 and 178 of the
Catechism; the former question being: “What has
the Holy Ghost done to bring you to Christ and
sanctify you?” and the latter: “What has the Holy
Ghost wrought in you by such a call?” The cate-
chist very carefully selected such questions only as
could not possibly transcend a child’s understand-
ing. A lecturing method was quite frequently pur-
sued by the catechist to make his points more im-
pressive. The catechization was well received.

The afternoon session of Conference was devoted
to business.

Wednesday night a joint service was held, in
which the Lord’s Supper was celebrated. In this
service Dr. H. Nau, of Luther

The speaker based his remarks on 1 Tim.

sional address and the Rev. W.
Tervalon, of Mansura, La., the
sermon.

Dr. Nau based his remarks
on Ps. 51, choosing the theme:
“The Well-prepared Commu-
nicant.” The speaker pointed
out that the well-prepared
communicant is 1. deeply con-
vinced of his sins; 2. eagerly
longing for forgiveness; 3. ever
praying for the gift of a sanctified life; 4. earnestl
resolved to amend his sinful life. ;

The Rev. ‘T'ervalon chose as his text Luke 2,
33—40, and his theme was: “What the Gospel of
Simeon and Anna Proposes to Us.” The speaker
showed that this Gospel proposes a question and a
threefold lesson: 1. A question: “What do you
make of the Child Jesus in the year drawing to
a close? Is He set for your rise or your fall?”
2. A threefold lesson: “a. We learn from Simeon’s
and Anna’s old age that we are not to delay re-
pentance, but always to be prepared. b. We learn
a lesson from Simeon’s and Anna’s piety and faith-
fulness. c. We learn not to fear for the Christ-
child, nor for the spreading and welfare of His
Church. The Child will wax and grow strong!”

Both speakers held the attention of their hearers
throughout the entire service. The blessed Gospel
of Jesus Christ was truly edifying and ably de-
livered.

Thursday morning Prof. H. Meibohm resumed

Teacher
W. B. Seeberry, Jr.,

Our New Orleans
Correspondent.