Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-05-24
THE LUTHERAN SYNOD AND THE
REBELLION.


The general synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of the United States has
recently been in session at Lancaster. This
body, composed of some of the ablcst
scholars and divines in the country, took a
deep interest in the present unhappy CON
dition of our national affairs. The fellow
ing preamble and resolutions were passed
by the Synod -
WHEREAS, Our beloved country, after
having long been favored with degree of
political and religious freedom security and
prosperity, unexampled in the history of
the world, now finds itself involved in a
bloody war to suppress an armed rebellion
against its lawfully constituted government
and
WhCre0s The word of God, which is the
sole rule of our faith and practice, requires
loyal subsection to 'the powers that be-
because they are ordained of God,n to be
terror to evil-doers and a praise to those
who do well,n and, at the same time, de-
clares that they who resist the power
shall receive to themselves condemnation
and
Whereas, We, the representatives of the
Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the United
States, connected with the several Synods,
assembled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, re-
cognzc it as our duty to give public express
sion to our conviction of truth on this
subject, and in every proper way to CO.
operate with our fellow citizens in sustaining
the great interests of law and authority, of
liberty and righteousness Be it therefore
ReSolrea, That it is the deliberate judy
mcnt of this Synod that the rebellion
against the constitutional government of
this land is most wicked in its inception,
unjustiiable in its cause, unnatural in its
character, inhuman in its prosecution, OPP
pressive in its aims and destructive in its
results to the highest interests of morality
and religion.
Resoloed, That in the suppression of this
rebellion, and in the maintenance of the
Constitution and Union by the sword, we
recognize an unavoidable necessity and a
sacred duty which the government owes to
the nation and the world; and that, there
fore, we call upon our people to lift up holy
hands in prayer to the God OF battles, with
out personal wrath against the evil doers on
the one hand, and without doubling the
righteousness of our cause on the other, that
He would give wisdom to the President and
his counsCllors, and success to the army and
navy, that our beloved land may speedily
be delivered from treason and anarchy.
R,Solted, That, whilst we regard this
unhappy war as a righteous Judgment OF
God, visited upon us, because of the indi-
vidual and national sins of which we have
been guilty, we nevertheless regard this
rebellion as more Immediately the natural
result of the continuance and spread of
domestic slavery in our land, and therefore
hail with unmingled JOY the proposition of
our chief magistrate, which has received
the sanction of Congress, to extend aid from
the general government to any State in
which slavery exists, which shall deem fit to
initiate a system of constitutional cmanci-
patton.
Resolcod, That we deeply sympathize with
all loyal citizens and christian patriots in
the rebelious portions of our country, and
we cordially invite their cooperation in
offering united supplications at Throne of
Grace, that God would restore peace to our
distracted country, re-establish tratcrnal re-
lations between all the States, and make our
land, in all time to come, the asylum of the
oppressed and the permanent abode Of
liberty and religion.
Re~ired, That our devout thanks arc due
to Almighty God for the success which has
crowned our arms; and whilst we praise
and magnify His name for the help and
succor He has graciously afforded to our
land and naval forces, in enabling them to
overcome our enemies, we regard these
tokens of His Divine favor as cheering indi-
cations of the final triumph of our cause.
During discussion, several amendments
were offered to the Third resolution, one by
DR.. Hay, to the effect that re gite thanks .t0r
tie prospect Of the remoral cr' the erUcf human
slarery from tic land, but the resolutions
were passed as reported from the committee.
The action of the Synod on this question
will command the respect and appreciation
of the country, and every true christian and
patriot.