Evening star., 1895-06-07
LUTHERANS IN SESSION
Matters Under Discussion Yesterday After
noon.
Report on Foreign Missions and the
Common Service-Anniversary
Exercises.

| Rev. Dr. George Scholl of Baltimore, sec
| retary of the board of foreign missions,
| submitted his report in the afternoon to
| the general synod of the Evangelical Luth-
| eran Church at Hagerstown, Nd, yester-
day.
The twenty-eighth biennial report of the
board Of foreign missions. read by Rev.
| George Scholl, says:
:"Our last report, which closed with March
81. 1898, showed balance of s9.OO469 in
the hands of the treasurer. The receipts
Tor the two years closing with March 81.
1895, were 800 655 % These receipts. to-
gether with the balance of $9,004.69, car
rled over from two years ago, make total
of s10S,65991 for the general and special
work of the board during the last two
years. The total expenditures for the same
period for the work both in India and At
rica have been s97, ,1O4.S2. On the 31st of
March, 1895, there was a balance of s11,-
6ooU9 left in the hands of the treasurer.
During the biennial the board has re-
ceived from the Womans Home and For
eign Missionary Society the sum of s22-
Z9Z2l. or this amount $2616.9S went to-
ward the erection Of the medical home in
Guntur, and balance of SAT 35 was ap-
rropriated to the Zenana Home, in Nara
sarowpet, while 19,227.SS of the amount
was used in the general work of the Ze-
nena conference.
During the last two years the board has
received by legac!es $11, 1879.
THE special offerings of the Sunday
schools on foreign mission day amounted
to s6.9S9.50, being an advance of $1,447OS
over the previous biennial.
"A large number of students and helpers
In the Gospel work, both in India and At
rica. continue to be supported by patrons
in this country. This department of work
is In an encouraging condition
with the exception of a little work on the
tower, the Arthur G. Watts memorial col
lege building in Guntur is now completed,
h1S o1v 1yy1 1aay ,ia1 Ixyt .1ygf
ferent departments of the school since the
23d of October. 1888 A small balance of
$S92.41, still remaining in the hands of our
treasurer March 81, 1898, was sent to India
s25. 800. Al RENTED to India on account of
the college,"
Report of Common Service.
The old question of a common service
was revived in the afternoon by the re-
porting of the committee Rev. Drs. G. U.
Wenner E. ]. Wolf, Charles A. Albert, W.
H. Dunbar and T. C. Billheimer, appointed
to prepare an abridged common service for
those congregations not desiring the full
common service.
The report evoked a long discussion,
which was put an end to by the arrival of
the adjournment hour and the report was
deferred for future action.
Anniversary Exercises.
The anniversary exercises of the board of
j. ".
Washington. president, were held last
night. Addresses were made as follows:
missionary Enthusiasm" by Rev. w. +.
Rentz, president Kansas synod, of Atchi-
son; 1.-The Pulpit and Foreign Missions"
by Rev. DR.. Holmes Dysinger of Palo. Ill.
ex-president Of Carthage College; 1.-The
Pew and Foreign Missions" by Rev. Au-
gustine r. Steck. pastor of st. James
Church of Gettysburg. Pa.
An interesting talk was given by a native
m a6I ad in
Growth of the Synod.
The synodical sermon delivered by the
retiring president on Wednesday evening
was an Interesting and exhaustive history
of the seventy-fve years of the general
synod since its birth at Hagerstown. The
Lutheran Church then was not a strong
body, the estimate of its strength in 1920
being 10 ministers, $50 congregations
(many of them mere handfuls) and 30, 900
communicates. 1t was felt that the lax
ness in doctrine, the preponderating influ-
ence of other religious bodies, the over
Episcopal Churches, threatened the exist
ence of the Lutheran Church in America,
unless its scattered bodies could be drawn
into closer union and assert their faith in
clearer and more unmistakable fashion.
The general synod then formed has not
been permitted to realize the union con-
templated, but it has been a mighty fac
tor in the development of the church to-
Lutheran character, both in doctrine and
worship.
The speaker said in the course of his re-
marks:
LAS we look back over the past and
mark what has been accomplished in these
seventy-five years. a throb of gratitude
must move every heart. Wonderful has
been the growth Then the whole Lu;h-
eran Church Of this land numbered 10
ministers. $50 congregations. $4,000 COM
municants; now the general synod alone
numbers 1,l2T minister's l,505 congrega-
tions, 10000 communicates; the whole
Lutheran Church 1854 ministers, 9,316 con-
gregations, 1,33O.442 commandments. If the
foundations were laid by worthy men, the
sons of the general synod that are here to-
day are as richly cultivated, as profound in
scholarship, as fervent in piety, as abound
Ing in good works; whilst cannot but feel
that in responsiveness to the issues of their
age, in sympathy with every godly move
ment, they exceed the fathers in the exhi-
bition of such qualities to their own age.
"As the reports of the various boards
will be read. You will receive tangible evil
dences of the vigor Of the life that is in the
general synod. India and Africa will send
their voices Of grateful love to US for our
noble men and women who carry to them
the Lord Christ, who are supported by the
prayers and offerings Of our people.
Churches all over this land, some born in
a day, will, trumpet-tongued, declare that
since the Lutheran Church accepts her d.
vino mission. God Is crowning her labors
with rich and even unmerited returns.
Side by side with the men of the church
toll the women, abundant in labors, patient
In trial. devout In spirit The young people
are working in the ranks as never before,
their very work arousing deeper devotion to
our noble church, their mother in the faith
THE years show a growing liberality on
the part of the membership, not merely in
money, but in that greater liberality, the
offering Of themselves, and in the gifts of
their sons and daughters for the Masters
work. Our colleges and seminaries have an
increasing host for the home and foreign
fields, whilst the young women Of the
church are being enrolled as deaconesses
ready for every call Of duty and compass
sionate love-"
Civil Service Reform.
The annual meeting Of the Civil Service