Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1929 · 34th Convention, River Forest › Page 116

LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1929, Page 116

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

116 Proceedings of Thirty-Fourth Re,

100 those not acquainted with the case; but he will carete
101 avoid offense and Prevent establishing a false Precedent
102 proceeding in full understanding with his Congregatio
103 with his brethren in office, especially hig Visitor and the
104 act according to hig Conscience, thus instructed, and in the
105 fear of God, in disposing of the case,
106 5. Resolved, That Synod warn those
107 pastors who are lax and allow the very e
108 a weak brother or sister to Justify a weak and
109 policy in dealing with all lodge-members
110 their Communion and otherwise, that they are re

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112 dimming the saving testimony of the truth b

113 compromise, and that they are Biving serious Offense to
114 their brethren.
115 6. Resolved, That Synod remind all pastors and con. - 2]
116 gregations that a truly Lutheran congregation Cannot per- -
117 manently remain half lodge and half antilodge and that
118 nothing will be gained, but, rather, much will] be lost, by
119 straddling the issue. Experience hag abundantly demon-
120 strated that the practise of admitting lodge-members to the
121 Sacrament indiscriminately and indefinitely with the hope
122 of gradually Persuading them to sever their lodge connec-
123 tions will lead to bitter disappointment and hopeless con-
124 fusion,

125 7. Resolved, That Synod, in agreement with the resolu-
126 tions of 1926, instruct its officers to exercise vigilant care
127 and urge all pastors and congregations to admonish those
128 congregations and pastors who permit the “lodge evil” to
129 exist in their churches without counter-testimony and de-
130 cisive action. If, after due investigation, it becomes evi-
131 dent that such congregations and pastors are indifferent or
132 refuse to remove the offense, they are to be suspended and
133 eventually expelled from synodical connection. Anything
134 short of a sincere determination by God’s grace to stamp
135 out the last vestige of the “lodge evil” within our congre-