Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-06-01
Patriotism of the Lutheran Church,

Patriotism OF the Lutheran Church.
The GeneralSynodo of the Lutheran Church
OF the United States held It's biennial ses-
sion IN. York, Pa, during the last ten days
A committee on the state of the country
consisting Of one member from each Synod
represented, was appointed, Of which Rev
w. A Passavant, of Pittsburg, was Chair
man. The following patriotic resolutions
were reported by the committee, and unan-
imously adopted, on a call of the yeas and
nays. 1t viii be seen that they take strong
ground in support of the Government, and
most emphaticaly condemn the system of
American slavery Us sin against God and
as the cause of the rebellion They also re-
buke the attempt of Bishop Hopkins, in
his celebrated letter to prove that slavery is
a divine institution By the adoption of
these resolutions the Lutheran Church of
the United States places itself fairly on the
side of justice and right We bespeak for
them the careful perusal Of our readers
Resolced, That having assembled sec
ond time during the prevalence of civil war
In our land, this Synod connot separate with
out solemnly re affirming the declarations "a
dopted at our last Convention in reference
to the originating cause oft rebellion, the
necessity of its torcible suppression, the
righteousness of the war which is Waged by
the Government Of the United States for the
maintenance Of the national life, and the
consequent duty Of every Christian to sup
port It by the whole weight Of his influence,
his prayers and his efforts.
Resoired, That We acknowledge with
profound gratitude to Almighty God. the.
various important successes which have thus
Tar crowned our arms; the merciful inter
position of Providence IN delivering us from
the invasion OF the enemy, and IN protecting
our homes, ourchurches and our Institutions
from the des0latiOns Of war ; and the cheer
ing progress which has been made by the
Government and the Nationin the recogni-
ton Of the laws Of God and the rights of
man III the measures which have been adopt
Ell for the suppression OF the rebellion
ResOiUed, That recognizing the suherings
and calamities Of war as the righteous judy
ment of a just God visited upon US for our
transgresslons, we call upon our pastors and
churches to unite with US IN the confession
of our many and grievous individual and ma
tlonal sins, and IN teryent supplications for
the Divine forgiveness. that as a people we
may break off sins by righteousness. and do
Justly, love mercy, and walk hurnbly with
God
Resolred, That as persistent efforts are
making among US by professedly christian
writers to prove, from the Holy Scrip
tures the Divine institution of American
slayery--the principal cause of this wicked
the Delegates of the General
Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in the United States, hereby express our
unqualified condemnation of such course,
which claims the sanction of the merciful
God and Father of us all fora system of hu-
man oppression which exists only by vio-
lence, under the cover of iniquitous laws.
tNoTE-The vote on the adoption of the
last resolutions by yeas and nays, was as fol-
lows: Yeas-Clerical, 72: Lay, 80 To-
tai, Ill. Absent on leave and not voting,
CLERICAL IA; Lay, a Total, 36.