The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-09-10
THE LUTHERANS.
lContinned from First nnreA

! INTO Apostolic ChTlstlanity-these place II
among our great National Churches.
What will be its future growth and what
its contribution TO the development Of this
mighty Nation are questions of mOmentous
! interest not only 10 Lutherans but TO all
American patriots and all American Christ
ians. The situation is fall of hope. The
prospect is inspiring.
That this Church has elements Of weak
ness; that the extension of her influence
will be at the price of struggles and trials,
is not to be denied. 1t is not the law Of
Christian forces to achieve triumphs with
ont conflicts. Via Crucis, via Lucis!
Yet the discouragements besetting the
! Lutheran body are less serious than those of
some Others. 1t lacks, indeed, the vigorous
organization Of the Methodists, the outward
unity of the Episcopalans, the propagandist
zeal Of the Baptists, and thesocial prominence
and wealth of the Presbyterians; yet, in
comparison with these, it holds vantage
ground which has led well-informed men
outside the body TO speak Of "the Lutheran
backbone Of this country"
Its future prosperity might be argued
from ITS rapid conquests in the recent past.
NO OTHER CHURCH
has had TO confront such obstacles, and yet
no other has in the last 40 years shown such
ratio of progress. In many districts both
in the East and in the far West, il has
gained more within a quarter Of a century
than all the other Evangelical churches COM
bined. A net increase of 2, 400 congregations
m 10 years is evidence Of a powerful and
aggressive vitality.
il, Notwithstanding storms Of adversity
unknown 10 other Churches, she has steadily
progressed; If, in her poverty of outward
resources and equipments, she has startled
the public mind by her prosperity and
power, what may she not be expected TO
accomplish, since the most favorable change
has come over her outward condition, and a
corresponding improvement has taken place
i'm her self-c0nsciousness, her esprit du corps,
and her realization OF the opportunities and
the mission which confront her in this cOun-
try.
The Lutheran Church has an infallible
guarantee Of success in the fact that she is
rooted and grounded in the Faith; that she
rests firmly on body of Evangelical doctrine
covering the whole sphere of Christian
thought and life.
Ideas rule the world. Moral forces must
ultimately gain sway over mankind. Truth
is the only invincible power on earth. The
word Of the Lord endureth forever. And a
system which is nothing less than scien-
tlhc exhibition and definition of scriptural
truth may be counted on as a mighty spir-
ltual force The consciousness of the
POSSESSION OF TRUTH
begets a confidence, an enthusiasm, and an
energy which makes the onward march Of q
religious body irresistible and illimitable.
The doctrines which the Lutheran Church
teaches have stood the test Of every conceiv-
able form of opposition. And they are the
same to-day as when they changed the face
Of Europe in the 10th century; the same,
substantially, as when they conquered the
Roman Empire from the Eupkrates to the
wall Of Hadrian.
While recognizing that the expressions
and adaptations Of the Gospel vary with the
progress Of culture and civilization, the
Lutherans have no idea that the truth itself
ever changes, and they cast no such imputa-
tions upon inspired teachings as are implied
in the claim that only after "a centuries is
the human mind able TO reach its correct
Interpretation.
The Lutherans know what they believe.
And whatever remains for them TO do in
order 10 attain the highest efficiency in
church work they have not first 10 settle
the principles or limits Of their creed. Not
a voice or a whisper is heard for creed reyis-
ion. Neither have they any place for
" new theology" A new theology they
consider
DEMAND FoR NEW BIBLE.
But ideas must be promulgated The
seedcorns of truth must be scattered over
broad acres and not hnsbanded in ancient
and imposing garners. Harvests grow from
industry and toll. The conservatism Of the
Lutheran body is so marked that its mcge-
ments often seem tardy, and its aggressiCns,
compared with others. seem behindhand. II
may be because of their race characieristics
that Lutherans have not generally been
classed with the most progressive.
They are not always at the front. 1t falls
sometimes to their lot faithfully TO tarry
by the stuff, while their more bustling
brethren 90 down TO the battle. Their con-
seryatism is, however, the conservatism Of
stability, not of stagnation. They are not
characterized by progress without perma-
Dence, neither by permanence without prog
ress, but combining the two principles their
first concern is 10 have a solid, immovable
foundation, and then they build on it, slowly
IL may be, but surely and forever They
may not plant missions as rapidly az some
Others, but once firmly planted their mis-
sions are wont 10 have a steady and fixed
growth.
The Year-BoOks Of some prominent de-
nominations contain column for extinct
congregations, one Of them reporting annu-
ally Onc-thrd as many churches expired as
were newly organized; another onc-half as
many. Lutherans have no such statistics.
Along with
oBsTINACY oP CONVICTION
the Lutherans are generally endowed with
staying genius, a persistence Of purpose, and
a power Of endurance that is sure 10 bring
them in due time TO the foremost rank.
II may have taken little while for these
sieady-going people TO become fully alive to
the rapidity and the immensity Of our coun-
try's expansion, and 10 realize the openings
and the responsibilities for Christian evan
gelizaiion, but they have undoubtedly been
aroused, and IL is by no means granted that
they are less active than most others in mis-
sionary labors, although their operations are
no doubt less demonstrative and less con-
spicuOus.
In the amount Of funds expended, and the
number Of missionaries and churches gener-
ously supported by wealthy boards, there is
no COMPARISON
with MethOdists or Presby yterians; bnt
when IL comes 10 results, the margin is with
tie Lutherans 10 an extent that is credited
only by well-informed Missionary Superin-
teadents