The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-17
ST. JAMES, LUTHERAN CHURCH l T.

The First Church synsd-n1isMsnary Easrss
M n for the Scandipavisns. asa9 saa
very fair congregation gathered IN this church
yesterday morning and listened to an interesting
report OF the proceedings OF their SYNOD which mad
been IN session last week and the week previous in
the town Of Client. N. Y, and from which their
pastor, Rev. A. G. Wedekind, had Just returned. A
brief ritual, condensed from the Anglican Church
Prayer Book. preceded the sermon. The hymns
used. too are mostly from English collections and
very much OF the old country spirit seems to be
preserved In the services throughout One OF the
first objects that strikes the eve OF stranger enter.
Ing the church is the sounding board above the
pulpit, on which Is beautifully and artisticaly
painted an open Bible with dove lowering over 1t,
and above oil the phrase 1--WE preach Christ" And
the sermon and the exposition OF the Scripture
lessons gave practical evidence that Christ is the
Alpha and the Omega OF the preaching IN ST. James,
VIII CHURCH DISCIPLINE
The gospel lesson read was from Matthew xviii,
1920, In which the Saviour lays down rules or
church discipline In regard 70 an oending brother
and uses in the same connection that remarkable
passage which the Doctor said had been SO Oft and
so greatly perverted by Romansts. namey--.What-
6Oever We shall bind on earth snail be bound In hea
ven, and whatsoever We shalt loose earth shall be
lo0sed In heaven.n The evident meaning OF which
forcing the discipline Of The Church, any ofendinG
brother who shall be restored to Fellowship by hts
brethren That decision snail be ratified in heaven,
and any who may be expelled SUCH decision shall be
equally binding IN heaven, because wherever two or
three gather IN the saviours name He is with Them
guiding their deliberations and controlling their
spirits so that their decisions may be according to
I, rHE FIRST sYNoDIcAL COUNCIL.
The sermon was . brief review Of the acts Of the
first church synod ever held In Jerusalem and over
posed IS we read tAcss xy, j. 2s Of the clergy ana
laity OF the Church and was called especially 10
pass upon drna points that haa entered into the
turbfng elements. IL took place about seventeen
years after St Paul's conversion ana as he ana
those provinces. founding churches ana gathering
In converts questions arose IN regard to circuni-
cision some conending that the converts TO CHRIS.
tianity should lie circumcsed according 10 the law
OF Noses In the synod there was much dissension
and dnputation on the matter until Paul and Peter
stood mp and made their missionary reports and
declared how God was no respecter or persons
but had poured out his spirit upon the I'M
clrcumclsed jews Then James gave the decision
OF the council, winch declared that faith and not
OF men, was the only foundation OF salvation. The
constitution OF the hISt synod ever neid IN the Chris
design Of tnat SodvHto harmonise u dcran enc
among their members--and the spirit OF love which
prevailed were made special subjects OF detailed
remarks, and the Doctor regretted that modern
Church councils do not meet In the same spirit and
with the same purpose. He charged much OF the
ministry. but he was glad that there is no great
body OF Christians IN the world whose supreme
councils have not both orders represented except
LUTHERAN MISSION WORK.
DR.. Wedekind then gave brtet detail OF the pro-
ceedfngs and plans adopted by the Lutheran Synod,
which adjourned last week. 1t was organized tour
years ago. with eight churches and thirteen PASTORS
IL has now twenty-five of each, and III few years
more. with corresponding increase. will be tine
largest synod In the United States six young mon
are being educated for It's ministry and at It's ex-
pense, and the synod ID determined to make greater
efforts than TO the Germans and Scandina-
VANS in and around this City, OF whom there are
not less than 10000 within radius OF thirty miles
Of New York. all III sympathy with their Church. bur
for lack OF missionary effort to gather them In are
not connected with any church. 1t Is, therefore, de-
signed TO employ one or more itnerant missionaries
TO attend to this work. SIX new missions have been
established In this city and vicinity. A system or
regular monthly subscriptions is to be established
throughout the denomination, ana also a system OF
box contributions in the family and IN the sunday
school. Such plan has been in operation in st.
James, church for some tlme and by 1t 5000 were
collected for benevolent purposes, together with
900 contributed Tor church and local purposes.
Increased subscriptions are demanded this year IN
view OF the enlarged enterprises OF The Church. 1,