LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1929, Page 114

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114

Proceedings of Thirty-Fourth Regular Convent;
ion,

5 tion of our position on the lodge *
6 “Resolved, That Synod go on r j
7 as ever opposed to lodgery because of its u he #8 firm}
8 antichristian character; and be it. further
9 “Resolved, That we hold it to be the 5 1
10 and God-given duty of every pastor proper) aa nen
11 his people on the sinfulness of lodgery in densi °
12 Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Vicarious atone. the Holy
13 other Scriptural doctrines, and to induce his .
14 or congregations to take action against all mene ettion
15 after thorough instruction refuse to leave th ee
16 be it further ® lo
17 “Resolved, That we deem it the duty of ey
18 Christian, fellow-pastor, and especially of the .
19 Synod to admonish all pastors who neglect thei
20 this respect; and if Christian admonition has be.
21 istered in the Spirit of Matt. 18 Without the prop

24 further
25 “Resolved, That if congregations, after having recej

26 due instruction, refuse to take action againgt lod, cma’
27 bers, Synod shall deal with them and eventually
28 them Christian fellowship; and be it further ’
29 “Resolved, That Synod earnestly request the Varioug

-mem-
refuse

83 “Resolved, That we recommend to Synod that a Lodge
34 Information Bureau be created by Synod to furnish infor.
35 mation, advice, and literature concerning lodges; and be
36 it further . ,

37 “Resolved, That in order to clear up a number of ques-

*
_— By lodges we here mean secret societies having religious
Principles, doctrines, or rites,

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1929. 115

g§ portant question; to which end also this committee shall be
3 instructed to draw up the results of their deliberations and

” to submit them to the various larger pastoral conferences
pa for discussion; and be it finally

52 “Resolved, That this committee be instructed also to
53 make the necessary recommendations to cover Overture 408
64 regarding the election of synodical officials.”
55 Your Committee, in 1927, issued a report to the con-
56 ferences dealing with the subjects referred to it for an
57 opinion. From the replies which your Committee received
58 from the conferences as well as from individuals, it has
59 become clear that, while the difference concerning the ques-
60 tion whether lodge-members may under certain circum-
61 stances be admitted to Communion still exists, there is an
62 increasing tendency toward greater strictness in dealing
63 with the lodge evil and a growing concern lest any show of
64 tolerance lead to a gradual breakdown of discipline in this
65 respect. Our congregations generally hold that no one who
66 is affiliated with a lodge can become, be, or remain a com-
67 municant nor a voting member of our congregations. Your
68 Committee noted with hearty approval the many expres-
69 sions warning against laxity of practise and interprets these
70 expressions as further evidence of a strong synodical senti-
71 ment against any compromise with the lodge evil. Your
72 Committee agrees with a desire frequently expressed that
73 Synod become entirely lodge-free and hopes that the para-
14 graphs hereinafter submitted will be helpful in attaining
75 that goal.
16 In the resolutions of 1926 your Hon. Body imposed on
77 your Committee a twofold task: first, to make recommenda-
78 tions as to the best method of securing uniformity in our
79 congregational practise; secondly, to make recommenda-
80 tions on Overture 408 (of 1926) in reference to electing to
81 official positions such ministers only as are pastors of lodge-
82 free congregations.

I.
83 1. After thorough consideration of the 1926 resolutions,
84 reaffirming the position of our Synod in regard to lodgery,
85 your Committee is convinced that they are so. comprehen-
86 sive that little need be added. If all pastors, congregations,
87 synodical officers, District synods, and the Delegate Synod
88 will practise according to them, the desired uniformity will
89 have been attained.
90 2. We recommend for adoption the following additional
91 resolutions: — .
92 3. Resolved, That Synod hereby declares that it is