Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-07
SERMON By
REV. SAM'L +. FURST.
r. he Bsilgtonts Lptisrra Congregation, Sun
day Morning, iNns ~, 1881.

! TExT-"Fcar not. I am with ,hce"-iaiah ll s.
These words were addressed to the
church for the peoples comfort, as also
the scriptural lessons read this morning
were addressed - Gods church.
! am this morning 10y special request,
| to speak concerning our own particular
l church-that is the denomination of
! the Christian church with which we
are identjGed-the General Synod of
the Lutheran Church in the United
States Of America. In doing so trust
TO be able TO give the information desir.
ed without unnecessarily woundlng the
feelings Of any who may not belong
to our branch OF the Christian church.
There is so much TO be said both a. to
church work and church progress. in
the general operations of Gods church
from the beginning of the establish.
ment OF his church on earth down to
the present time, that il Is difficult to
select that which may be Of most in.
terest and most useful. These words
Of God comfort his people with the
thought that He is with them in all
their works so long as they are true
and faithful TO Him. Now in applying
these words to the Christian church,
and especially to the progress. present
condition and prospects for the future
OF the Lutheran church in America, we
find so many points to be noticed that
we can but barely touch upon compare.
lively few of those we desire to have
understood. on the more important
ones, and then there may be some that
should be noticed omitted
The statement was made from the
pulpit OF the church in our General
Synod, that met in Altoona last week.
by one who is we'll informed in church
history, that the Lutheran Church nev.
or had an opportunity to freely devel.
ope herself until she was planted upon
the free soil of America. This is true
of all the denominations in European
countries. Where there il connec.
tion between the government Of the
country and the church we find civil
power interfering with the spiritual
growth that otherwise would arise more
rapidly. There are interventions for
the sake Of mercenary motive that in.
teTfere with the full development OF
the gospel work in the Christian church.
So 1t Is that in the Lutheran church in
America we find her development to be
far beyond what it is in Europe-or ever
was in her greatest days in Europe. We
find also that in her progress during
the last two years she has far outstripped
herself in this work as compared with
former years-has gone away beyond
every thing that has been accomplished
in more than twice that length OF time
before. In what ! shall say this morn.
ing. shall have reference only to these
particular points Of progress that have
been effected especially during the last
| two years.
The first, of the few Of which we shall
speak, is the one concerning our Foreign
missions work. Our Foreign Mission
BOARD has accomplished far more in
India than the most sanguine expected,
and never in the history of the church
has there been 80 much gratifying work
done in so short aepace Of time. Even
the work has grown 80 rapidly upon
our hands that il has become necessary
TO establish new schools, and not being
able 10 supply them with missionaries
as instructors, they are taught by the
more intelligent natives, and hundreds
are taught, and in operating in this way
thousands of souls have been reached.
Our missionaries are simply powefless
TO teach them as they should be taught
and instruct them in the Christian re.
ligion. Hence IL has become necessary
to open new schools that those who are