Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-27
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Representative Harter Talks ForcibIy Upon
the Glorious Heritage of That Denornina-

Representative IIarter Talks ForcibIy Upon
the Glorious Heritage of That Denonins-
tinn.
The glorious heritage of the Lutheran Church
was the theme OF an able and eloquent address
last evening at st. Paul's Lutheran Church By
Representative Harter Of Ohio His subject.
a. formally announced was the future of the
Lutheran church. but in order to describe the
future that lay before the church the speaker
went back and spoke of the rich and historic past
of this old mother church. All the religious de-
nominations OF the world. he said. were in
debted to the Lutheran Church. The changes
in the Catholic Church since the reformation
has made 1t what il is. The articles of faith of
the Church of England identical with the
Lutheran belief. With the exception of the
parts that are objected to by many of the mem
bersbir of the Presbyterian Church. the creed
OF that church is practically that of the
Lutheran Church In fact. there
church but had drawn largely from this old
mother church. And today. when the founda-
tons of the faith in many commuriOns
seemed to be shaken, in the Luth-
Gran Church there is peace and the
world comes back to this church as to the de-
posltOry Of truth For this reason the church
was an object of interest today to those outside
OF her communion. She is of interest also to
the patriot because she presents the spectacle
of n church that has always been enlisted in the
cause Of liberty and law. For 400 wears she has
welded a great influence; not German nor
American. not provincial but cosmopolitan.
When IN absolute control there is no record of
oppression against this old church. I'VE have
had no inquisitions, nor have ever made the
attempt Ia bind the consciences of men. BIT
always the platform has been in essentials
union, III non-esscrtials charity
EARLY ARRIVAL IN THIS COUNTRY.
He spoke of the early arrival into this country
of tine adherents of this faith and said that with
such history and with such opportunities it
would be pleasant to be able 10 say that the
church is doing well in this country as posi-
bic. But to say that would not be telling the
truth. I'VE VINO were here before the Pill
grinis. she SAID. land at st. Augustine, Fla
began almost, among the first. the work of
planting the gospel IN the new land are not
maintaining the rank we then held as leaders.
The census reports show that we have large
numbers. and on the face IL looks as II we were
doing we'll But when We consider the tide Of
immigration that Is pouring into this country
We are doing little. The great bulk of these
people are Litberans. In our church however
they are only birds of passage until they go
into some other church. The Episcopal Church
is largely made up Of Lutherans. Throw a
stone into most any Episcopal church and five
Lutherans would be killed to one Episcopalian
who would be injured
Mr.. Harter also spoke of the failure of the
church to hold and 20 attract the young. and
said that If the reverse was the case that the
Lutheran Church would hold the place which its
history and its principles entitled it to as the
power III this country TODAY. ''Our COM
munion, he said, lis like a vineyard not
hedged about. but the property of any who
choose TO go IN. Our capable and efficient
workers are too often drawn away into other
churches. Certainly the other churches cannot
be blamed for gathering in good material. The
blame hes with us that they are allowed or
want 10 go. Our pastors are capable and use
full. We have learned. and able writer's on church
topics; our schools and colleges are well
equipped, but III spite of all these features our
church is not exerting the influence which it
should He then spoke of the divisions in
the church and the disadvantages of a house
being divided against itself. I'VE are divided
into all sorts of schismatic bodies and have no
sympathy pervadinS the entire communion"
OTHER CHURCHES IGNORANT or LUTHERAN HIS
TORY.
lie spoke of the ignorance which existed in
other churches, and generally of the history. the
objects and the aims of the Lutheran Church
A an instance, he cited the case of the mission
AIRY board of the Methodist Church. which re-
Gently III apportloning the money to be devoted
TO the work of converting the heather set aside
n sum so that missionaries could be sent TO con-
vert TIE Lutheran heather III NORWAY. We
have indeed hidden our ligh; when our neigh
bors don know OF the splendid work that is
beng done b. the Christians OF that country
who III proportion To their ability are convert
ing more heathens throughout the world than
any other church.
The speaker concluded that there must be
eauSe for this condition OF things. and he
thought 1t was Tue III part Ia having kept the
Lutherans themselves in ignorance of what
belonged TO them. OF what Lutheranism means
tie further thought that the church mad been
dereiict IN having thrown aside its liturgy. He
made a strong plea for the use of a liturgical
service. for the wearing OF gowns BY the clergy
and for attention 70 the splendid hymnology Of
the church. lie also thought that a proper
welcome was not given to the strangers who
found their way TO our shores to make their
homes here. He advised charity to customs
that were unlike ours and urged that these
people be not ismlssed with the curt comment
that they are only lager beer Lutheran In
conclusion he said that if the people took an
interest in their church and true to its ira
ditions and we're IN sympathy with each other
that there was brilliant future before the
Lutheran Church in this country.