The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-09-29

Meeting Ofthe Second Conference of
the Lutheran Synod OF PennsyI-
vRniR.
on Tuesday OF last week the Lutheran body
met in semi-annual convention in Ben Salem
Church, East Penn township, Carbon county.
This church and charge, now under the care Of
Rev. w. IA. Strauss, are situated in the beauti.
ful Muhonlng Valley lying imm ediately west OF
LehiRhton and north of the Blue Ridge Most
Of the members Of this conference reside in the
Lehigh Valley. and the membership contains
at present atty clerical names, with their Law
delegates. The church was beautifully and
tastefuliy decorated with flowers and ever
greens in honor Of the occasion. Above the
pulpit. surmounting floral cross was the word
Welcome" in larae letters, which expressed
the cordial feelings with which the Conference
was greeted on the part Of the good people.
The fret session was opened at p. NJ, in the
regular liturgic form of the church. The first
question which occupied the attention Of the
Conference was the question whether the term
OF the presidency OF synod should be extended
beyond its present limits, aud the president
should devote his entire time and energy TO the
duties of his office. Most OF the memOers seem.
ed to be che affirmative side OF the question.
desiring TO have m re effective supervision in
the Hffairs Of he synod and the congregations.
at O'Clock in the evening the capaciOus
church. with galleries on three sides. was well
| filled with the members of the congregation
Rev. H. A. Bauer. of Hazletan, who mad been
| their pastor for twenty nine years, preached on
| the text my beloved Oretnern be We stead.
fast, uumOvable, always abOundinR In the work
Of the Lo'd, forasmuch as ye know that your
| ludlng tOuchingly tp his long ptstOlate among
| this people hetvery ably expOunded and appled
moution S Ito to steadfas ness in eiipion. T. An ad
mOnitioh to growth IN Christian life g. How
g.Owth in Diety must grow out OF true faith. 4
| rinally, the motive to such steadfustnesI and
| growth. Tne entire discourse was delivered
| without notes, and in the choicest language
showing tnat the preacher is perfect master
The choir, under the leadership Of the organ
ist Mr.. Nothstein, had maze SPECIAL prepara.
tiOn to contribute 10 the interest of The OccasiOn
| and thus with attentive hearers fine sermon,
hearty singing the services proved highly edi.
| fylng.
| The frs. matter occupying the attention OF
| the BODY on Wednesday morning W as the supply
ed that the charges Of EastOn, Cnerryvllle,
| Moore township ana LehightOn, vacant at the
last meeting have AZ been supplied with per.
| IN Plalnheld and the smaller one at Bl snkill
| GENRE the contiguous Union church was con
nected TO form permanent charge. Rev. ID.
| KuntZ, of Nazareth, has slgnlted his intention,
| IN accordance with the request OF Conference,
| to resign the last named charge.
| Rev. q. A. Bruegal, pOstOr Of the CherrYville
| charge. received permission TO supply temper.
ariy the church a Pennsvllle, belonging to the
| LehRhtOn charge.
the vacant congregations at weatherly and
| ROckpOrt, Pa, were committed for supply of
services 60 the care of Revs. L. A. Bauer and
| W. MacKernagle
BY resolution, the Towsmensing Cherryville
and Petersvi'le congregations were constituted
| one charge those Of Moore township. Little
| Moore township ana stone Church formed into
another
Reports by the pastors concerned in reference
to the division OF their charges and the lorna.
| ton OF new ones were called iOr and responded
TO to the effect that gradual progress IS being
| n nta ~ Iaf nh
In It's way seem to be on the one hand the ST. ong
| attachments between congregations and their
present pastors, as well as between the congre.
| CATIONS themselves ana on the otl er hand Jne
want Of means TO support additional pastors.
The synod having recommended to COnel ence
| the holding of Sunday School conventions, 1t
| was unanimously resolved that such cOnven-
ton he held within tins district, and mat th4
pastors OF The cOngl egatlOns III Bet thlehem, with
the superIntendents Of their Sunday schools,
| constitute committee TO make the necessary
| preparations for the no ding Of he same.
| AL Englleh Lutheran congregation being in
| progIess of formation in MillerstOwn and de.
string the aiO and good will OF the German cUn.
gre gntlOn there, IL was resolved tina, the young
| CONGREGATION be encouraged to go on i'll ITS com.
| m ndaDle enterprise, and that the advice be
| gwen TO the parent congregation 10 allow the
Young flock temporarily TO hold is services IN
the Oiu Cbutch at such times as are not occupied
by Il for German services.
The services Wednesday evening were even
| more lBrge, ATTENDED than those of the evening
before. 1t was subject OF remark among the
| members OF the Conference, this Ouipourlng
! the peODle to near tho preaching Of the Gospel.
The altar service was conducted by Rev. c.
j. cooper and Rev. w. Hath preached the
sermon. The text "a Cor. iii. g. II, afforded tine
! theme: " The Glory OF tue Chris I an NJ inistry"
Ihis office was SHOWN to be glorious" for Lne
iohOwng mann reasons: l. Because it Is the
| Office, not OF the letter. but of the Spint 2
because II preache, the righteousness not OF
the law, Uut Of faltn In Christ. 3. Because IL is
| not TO Oe done away, liKe the ''ministrauCn" TO
the Old covenant, but ''remDlneth" to the end OF
time. The discourse was delivered in a very
| impressive manner, ana was attentively Teceiv.
cd by both ministers ana congregation.
This UelnR the last public service OF this meet
ing, The Pr sident tOOk TINS occasion TO return
THANKS to the members OF the congregation for
their KIND an0 liberal entertainments OF the
members of Conference. The beautiful moon.
hgnJ evenings during the week added not a
Lutte to the y ensures Of this meeting.
ne subject O consideration before Conference
at the session ON Thursday morning was the
theses on THE call Ol minise er TO II cOngrega.
tion." The first and second theses having been
discussed IN former meeting, the third was
now Gakrn up, which reaUs as follows; 1t ia
tne duty OF the congregation TO secure for itself
Tue abundant preaGning OF the Gospel and the
FREQUENT ADMINISTRATIONS OF the sacraments." !"
Under tins II was truthfully stated that the
custom Of having preaching only every four
weeHs ln a cOngleEUtiUn may have been deteI.
slOle III former wears when our churches were
poor aud pastors too few TO 40 otherwise but
that unuer present cIrCumsta no cOnRregn-
ton should be satisfied without at least one
service every SUNDAY. And rs 10 receiving the
sacrament 81 the Lords Slpper, Luther was
quoted as saving that Christian shOuld com.
mune, at the very least, tOur times gear.
While two succeeding theses were beng dis
| cusseu, the hour for the huai adjournment ar &.
i1Ved, ana thiS pleasant and prOfiIaD Q meeting
came TO ITS c'ose at II O'c.ocK on Thursday
morning.
THIS meeting was the occasion Of dispelnR
from the mlnus of many memUers OF Conferences
the widely spread but erroneous idea that the
dwellers behind the Blue Mountains are most v
, poor Deoplu, and far behind tne age in educa
, ton and refinement, aud especially those OF
their neIghOOrs lvlng south OF the mountain.
The fine taIms Of the MahOning Valley the
piano. and organs in large numUer Of families
an0 select school at one OF Its cross roads,
speaKs Ol Detler thlngS than what Is usua lly
imagined as existing behind the Blue Noun.
talns." Ihe deiegates were all highly pleased
with the country and the people.
The next OF spring meeting OF Conference, by
? invitation OF Rev. 5, A. 2Iegenfuss, Will TAKE 4
, place in his church at Bath, Northampton
! cOunty.-SiatingtOn NeiUs.
p From MRuch Chunk.