Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1938 · 37th Convention, St. Louis › Page 8
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1938, Page 8

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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8 President’s Address

such as was established by our fathers has led us into a heritage
so glorious that human words fail to describe it adequately. This
precious heritage has been bestowed upon us and preserved for
us throughout an entire century. This is something truly -unique
in the history of the Church. It must be attributed entirely to the
grace of God. We are enjoying a remarkable privilege. Oh, let
us appreciate it from the depth of our souls! The glorious privilege
begets and emphasizes our great responsibility. Christ wants us
to teach whatsoever He has commanded. Like unto our fathers
we are to be custodians of the truth. Many will challenge and
ridicule such a claim, but that does not disprove it. God’s Word
convinces us that we have the truth.

May God continue to fill our hearts with a keen realization
that we must keep and retain His Word in its purity! If the
voice of history means anything at all, it will be far more diffi-
cult to remain faithful and loyal to the truth during the next ‘cen-
tury than in the century now drawing to a close. This is not due
in any degree to the Word of God nor to the will of God, for these
continue as of old. God wants us to retain the truth. He desires
to preserve it for us. If it be lost, the fault will rest entirely with
us. Let us guard against a lack of appreciation of our blessed
heritage. Let us beware of satiety and indifference. Let us prop-
erly appraise the value of orthodoxy. Let us study it more thor-
oughly, cling to it more gratefully, share it with others more will-
ingly, proclaim it more aggresively. Let us use, and we shall
not lose it.

Since we are a doctrinal Church and so much depends upon
the thorough indoctrination of the present and future membership,
a word is well in place about the system of parochial schools
which our fathers established, which have proved to be such a
blessing in the building of a great Church. Many have grown
weary in their interest in, and support of, this splendid system
of schools inaugurated by our fathers. We still say and write some
beautiful things about our schools, but only too often our activity
is not in harmony with our profession. When the twenty-fifth -
anniversary of Synod was celebrated, our fathers urged the in-
troduction of regular school sermons at all conventions in order
that the interest for our schools might be increased. May God
grant grace that during our coming celebrations we may empha-
size thorough Christian indoctrination and translate into action
the beautiful sentiments expressed!

5. The Great Commission of our Redeemer also contains a
glorious assurance. The King of the Kingdom speaks to His sub-
jects. A matter which was of utmost importance to Him at that
time was that He must remind. His disciples of His.authority to

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