The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-08
LUTHERAN SYNOD.
Tbe Proseedings Yesterday = Inter.
esting Discussion.

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod met
uursusnt 70 adjournment of the previous
dsy. The session was opened by the
Chaplain. Tho minutes of the former
session we're read, corrected and adopted.
Pastor Brand, of Pittsburgh S. s., was
excused from attendidg the Synod on Fri
dsy. Pastor j. T. Boyer, OF Pittsburgh,
made his appearance during the session.
Mr.. Henry Hohmsnh, delegate of Pastor
Brecht, of Perryville, Pa, is also in at
tendance.
The subject decided on was then taken
up for discussion Tho question is:
Hboes God forbid the marriage of de-
ceased wife's sister," The question was
presented to the Synod one year ago, but
a. no unanimous conclusion was reached
the matter was deferred to this meeting
of the Synod.
The whole morning session was de-
voted to this question without reaching
any conclusion. Both affirmative and
negative accept the position that Gods
word alone is decisive in all matters OF
conscience. This is the position of the
Lutheran church. The only difficulty In
the question is, Whist does God word say
about the natter
The following is the position of the
affirmative: In Leviticus l8 and ~ the
dlvinely forbidden degrees of relation
ship are mentioned. Lev. l8, is the
general rule coxering the entire ground.
This verse reads: "None of you shall ap
proach to any that is near of kin to him,
to uncover their nskedness; l am the
Lord" The literal translation of this
verse from the Hebrew was rendered:
Man, man, to all flesh of bis flesh
eholl not approach, i. 6. marry.
Now, what is the Scriptural meaning of
the word flesh in this placer The Scrip
lures use the word flesh here in the sense
of near-blood -relatives, such as parents
and children, sisters and brothers, as we'll
as man and wife. LEV. Il, 3; also IL,
l2). Flesh of ones flesh must therefore
be the near blood relatives of parents,
of sisters, of husband, of wife, etc. The
wife is one flesh with her husband ("The
twain shall be one flesh, the sister is
one flesh with the wife (her sister there
fore must the wife's sister BE- flesh of the
husbands flesh This wite). From this it
necessarily follows that the wlte's sister
IS included in the rule laid down in Lev.
l8, 6; hence God forbids the marriage of
the deceased wife's sister.
The negative objected: The wife's
sister is not one blood with the wite's
husband, hence cannot be blood relatives.
Lev. l8, l8 was adduced to show that
such marriage would be allowable after
the death OF the wife, for thus reads the
passage: "Neither shalt thou take q
wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover
her nakedness, besides the other in her
life time" And more than this, God
even commands (Deut rs. 5.6) that a
brother shall marry the wife of his
deceased brother, the relation being
exactly the same as in the previous case.
II was also adduced that the expression
flesh of his flesh could not be applied to
the relation between the husband and his
wifes sister except by inference, and that
such inference dare not be made because
of Lev. lS, Is.
The affirmative answered.: The ques-
ton is not whether from the standpoint
of nature the husband is related by blood
with his wife's sister, but whether the
Word of God tells us 80. That God does
include others than those who are by
nature of the same blood is evident from
the example given Immediately after the
rule is laid down ". g.. Among these
examples of forbidden marriages we find
not only those who are by birth related,
but we also find four examples OF such rs
are related only by marriage, viz: V. 8,
the fathers wife (stepmother); v. IA, the
fathers brothers wife (aunt by mar
risge);v. 10, the daughter. in law, and v.
l6, the brothers wife SISTER -in-law by
MARRIAGE From these examples it is
conclusive that God includes in the gen
eral rule concerning forbidden marriages
the relationship entered into by mar
riages.
The other objections of the negative were
answered by referring to the fact that
God can and does make exceptions to His
own rules, and that these exceptions can
not overthrow the rule. Now the rule
is: All of near kin are forbidden, IN.
Guiding near kin by marriage, God does
not make the exception of the wires sis
ter, and being of near kin by marriage,
the case is covered by the general rul,,
v, 6. Again was it objected, that
difference must be made between the
term flesh rs used in the relation by
marriage and as used in the relation by
birth.
The affirmative simply answered by
stating that a distinction of this kind
would not affect the answer, inasmuch as
the rule covers both.
The discussion is to be continued.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The second committee handed in its
report. They had in hands writing
from Pastor Martens, declaring that he
does not consider every official act per-
formed by Lutheran minister in COM
psny with a minister of another den omi-
nation, pulpit.iello wship, nor does he
consider it wrong, in all cases, but that
such act Is wrong only when error is
recognized thereby.
As the subject of pulpit fe llowshipis
settled matter with the rest of the breth.
rem, a regular discussion of the matter
WIS considered unnecessary. A com.
mittee was appointed to confer with the
brother.
The third committee read Its report.
They had in hands a constitution of a
congregation in Butler county, Pa, and
with it also an application for reception
into and connection with the Synod.
Some serious difficulties were found in
the way, in consequence of which the
congregation conld not be received. The
matter is not settled.
Adjourned to meet again at 81 o'clock
this morning.
Rev. 6. F. Il. Maeiser, of Youngstown,
o., arrived yesterday evening.