The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 138

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138

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

weapons in our hands with which to vanquish
our foes.

Closed sessions were held Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday mornings and afternoons. These sessions
were attended by the missionaries and by the dele-
gates from the various congregations. An encourag-
ing feature of recent conferences is the intelligent
part which the laymen take in the discussions. Two
papers were read in the morning, one by Rev.
Thompson on “Some of the Best Methods for In-
creasing Church-membership,” and another by Rev.
O. W. Luecke, of New Orleans, on “Perfect Holi-
ness — Is It Possible in This Life ?”

Pastor Thompson pointed out in his paper that
the pastor is often discouraged because the visible
fruit of his labor is but scant; he is, perhaps, even
tempted to resort to so-called “modern” methods
of increasing his church attendance and church-
membership. He must shun these, however. The
essayist outlined some legitimate methods which he
and others have used with success. The paper was
subdivided into several parts: The pastor must be-
come thoroughly acquainted with his field. He
should preach according to the needs of his hearers.
Missionary zeal should be aroused among the mem-
bers. Missionary societies may be formed. Adver-
tising should be used. The laymen should be
exhorted to prayer. Instruction classes should be so
conducted as to suit the needs of those receiving
instruction.

The paper by Rey. Luecke pointed out the folly
of those who pretend that they are leading a per-
fectly holy life, without sinning. Such a state, the
essayist showed, is utterly impossible in this world.
For Christ’s sake God forgives us all our sins, so
that in His sight we are perfectly righteous, without

sin; but never in this life can we attain to a perfect

condition in which we no longer commit sin. “If we
say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”
1 John 1, 8.

On Thursday evening Rev. E. R. Berger read a

paper on “The Falling Away of the Confirmed from

. the Church.” The speaker called to our attention
the snares which the devil, the world, and the flesh
lay for our young people and urged his hearers to
awaken to a sense of their responsibility in the
matter. z

“Apparent Contradictions in the Bible” was the
subject of Rev. Kramer’s paper, taken up on Friday
evening. Many unbelievers and scoffers make
capital of the fact that certain passages of Scripture
Seem at variance with other portions. ‘The essayist

_ brought forward a number of these seemingly con-

tradictory passages and showed that in reality there
are no discrepancies between them, but that all
parts of God’s Word are in perfect accord and that,
upon investigation, one statement is found not only
to harmonize with, but even to make clearer, another
which at first glance it seemed to contradict.

The little chapel was filled to overflowing on
Sunday evening when Pastor Kramer preached the
closing sermon. He reminded his fellow-workers in
the Lord’s vineyard of their duty to thank God for
the manifold blessings which He has showered upon
them and their work, and encouraged them to
return to their respective fields of labor filled with
determination to do still more for the extension of
His kingdom.

May the Lord bless this our conference with
such fruit! May every one who attended it, mis-
sionary and layman alike, be strengthened in faith
as a result; and may the zeal engendered in them
result in the winning of many others for Christ and
His kingdom! J. ANDREW SERAILE.

Immanuel Conference
at Kannapolis, N.C.

Early in the morning of July 26 the pastors,
teachers, delegates, and members of the various con-
gregations of the Southeastern field began to arrive
in the thriving little town of Kannapolis, situated
about seven miles north of Concord. They were on
hand to enter upon the work of conference, which,
besides the regular business, consists of special ser-
mons and papers.

Promptly at eleven o’clock devotional services
were led by the Rev. L. G. Dorpat, of Meherrin, Va.,
chaplain of the conference, after which President
W. O. Hill declared the conference opened and
evoked God’s blessings upon all its deliberations.

Much of the business of the conference was done
by various committees appointed by the chair. This
arrangement proved a saving of time. Rev. F. D.
Alston, our Field Superintendent, in a few well-
chosen words welcomed the conference in the name
of the congregation of Kannapolis.

In the afternoon session a very timely paper on
the First Article was read by the Rey. A. Roberts, of
Spartanburg, S.C. After a lively discussion a vote
of thanks was given the essayist. In this session
Dr. Nau told about the work that is being done at
Immanuel College and urged upon members of the
conference to send our Lutheran boys and girls to
Immanuel.

Pe tere