LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1923, Page 5

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Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and: Other States. 1923, 5

“Therefore the Church can never~be better governed and
1 than if we all live under one head, Christ, and all the
equal in office (although they be unequal in gifts), be dili-
coined in unity of doctrine, faith, Sacraments, prayer, and
Our Synod has so far been preserved from party spirit. Although
members are seatter€d over distant lands and differ- much as to
, ditions and manner of living and external interests, still there are
different tendencies, no divisions, among us despite our many
ilties and weaknesses. It would be unheard of within our Synod
speak of a liberal party in opposition to a conservative party. We
all joined together‘in the same mind and in the same judgment.
ne and the same spirit prevails in all our District conventions and
4n all our educational institutions. That such is the case we owe not
“49 ourselves, but to the Word of God, which was diligently preached
and studied in our midst ever since the organization of our Synod
and is still preached and studied in our churches and schools, at our
conferences and synodical meetings. In our midst the Word of God
~ has revealed its power to create-and preserve unity. On the one hand,
/- in divine matters, it permitted no other voice than that of Jesus
’. “49 gain authority among us; on the other hand, it prevented the adi-
-. aphora from becoming so prominent as to estrange and to divide-us
inwardly, so that they were decided, often after a spirited debate,
.” either by the minority’s submitting to the majority or by the
majority’s yielding to the minority when that was demanded by
charity. >
May the faithful God restrain and ward off from us all doctrinal
’ indifference which seeks to insinuate itself into our midst, so that
we may confess with the fathers of our Synod: “Thy testimonies are
my counselors.” Then we shall continue peacéfully in one mind in

- spite of the fury of the devil, the world, and our flesh; we shall prove
ourselves a salt in this unionistic age and be able to do the great
work of the Church in a God-pleasing manner. To this end may the
Lord bless our present convention!

Let our prayer be the closing sigh of the authors-of the Formula
of Concord: “May Almighty God and the Father of our Lord Jesus
| grant the grace of His’ Holy Ghost that we all may be one in Him
and constantly abide in this Christian unity, which is well-pleasing
to Him! Amen.” (Trigl. 837.) :

j

r

The President’s Report.

Since the Book of Memorials, which is in the hands of each
delegate; gives full information regarding the synodical: events of
the past three years as well as respecting the business before the

present convention, I shall be brief. Suffice it to remark the: fol-
lowing. . ;