The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-06-08
I.ntheran General SYNOD.
From the Baltimore American.

bodies in this country, representing, as 1t
does, % local synods, l ,505 congregations
and /, 127 ministers, with $50, 200 COM
municant members. OF the 250 delegates
to the Hagerstown convention, 112 are
clerical and 112 lay delegates. The 9th
ers are secretaries of boards and other off
GERS and members of standing church COM
mittees.
In the past the question of adopting
ritual service has evoked discussion, but
the last General Synod, two years ago, at
Canton, Ohio, compromised the matter by
authorizing the use of one of two ritual
books, or none, at the pleasure of individ-
ual congregations and pastors. 1t is not
anticipated that the subject will be opened
anew at the coming session.
The hymnal revision committee will
make a report, and the reports of the va
rious church boards will elicit considerable
interest. The church has missions in In
dia, Africa and other foreign fields, and
Rev. DIR. George School, of Baltimore,
secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions,
viii submit his report; Rev. DR.. A. Stew
art Hartman, of Baltimore, will report on
home missions; Rev H. II. Weber, of
York, Pa, on church extension; Rev. DIR.
d. H. Brauslin. of Canton Ohio, on min
isterial support. and other interesting re-
ports will be submitted on publications. the
Parent Education Society, and the Luth
eran Historical Society, of which Rev. DR.
John G. Morris is president.
a NAMES SIGNIFICANCE.
The General Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Of the United States uses the word Evan
seEcar as part Of its name, for the term
dates back 10 the days Of Martin Luther,
who called his teachings evangelical. The
..Old I4utherans are those who split from
the Evangelieals when the attempt was
made in Germany. about the year 1917,
to unite the Lutheran and the German
Reformed churches. The Old Lutherans
are represented in this country by the Buf
fllo General Synod and BY what Is known
as the Missouri General Synod, There
are three churches of the Missouri Synod
in Baltimore These hold more definitely
10 the doctrine of transubstantiation IN the
Lord 5 supper, as originally held by Martin
Inther. as do also the churches of the
Ohio Snvod. The Old Lutherans have
a Htureical service. while the General
Evangelical Synod makes it optional to use
either Of the two services adopted by the
last General Synod, or not to use any reg
ular service, at pleasure.
Lutheranism Is the prevailing Protestant
faith in the German Empire, in Denmark.
Sweden and Norway, while there are many
Lutheran churches in Holland Russia,
Poland and Hungary. It's estimated that
there are two and a-half million l.utherans
in Russia. There are in the world about
fifty million I4utherans Martin Luther Is
recorded as having been a great friend Of
public and congregational schools. and 30
the church in these United States early
became an educational influence. estab-
fishing colleges. seminaries and schools,
while advocating state schools. Two Of
the earliest Of these institutions were the
Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, and
the Gettysburg Theological Seminary.
The history of the Lutheran Church in
the United States dates back to the year
1900. when German Lutherans began 20
immierate to this country. They grad
ually spread over the states Of New YORK
PENNSYLVANIA and Maryland In l7i0
3. 900 I4utherans came to America from
the Palatinate, and settled in New York,
In the year 1913. a large number came to
Georgia. and located At place which they
called Ebenezer. When George Whitfield
came from England he visited these Georgia
Lutherans. AMI gave bell for the use Of
their church. The descendants Of these
Southern I.utherans now are found in the
Synod Of South Carolina, and in the synods
Of the adjoining states.
Numerous Lutheran colonies located in
Pennsylvania about the year l742. It
was about this time that their great leader.
Rev. Henry NJ Muhlenberg. came to this
country from Germany, and located IN
PENNSYLVANIA. He travelled far and wide.
Il was his work that organized the first
Lutheran Synod in America. Up to the
time Of his arrival, the Lutherans &c Phil
adelphia. being few IN number, woTshiped
with the German Reformed Church. which
is very similar to the Lutheran service and
form Of church organization. Muhlenberg
al once organized his Philadelphia con
gregation. As result Of his missionary
labors. he organized the Synod Of Phila-
delphia in the year l74S. with eleven
preachers.
After the Revolutionary War the de
nomination began to grow, as a result Of
German immigration. In 1886 there were
about twenty i've Lutheran preachers in
the United States.
In 1920, the most important event in
the history Of the church in this country
took place. That was the organization Of
the General Synod, by which SONG SIX
local syuods became united in the general
body. The first fruits Of the organization
Of the General Synod was the establish
ment Of the Gettysburg Theological Semi
nary for the instruction Of Lutheran young
men who were candidates for the ministry.
BALTIMORE LUTHERANs.
The frst Lutheran congregation in Bal
timore was organized about the year $50.
ITp to the year 1855 the Lutheran con
qregation divided time with the Baltimore
Reformed Church, worshiping in the same
building. In 1853 the Lutherans decided
to build a church. In 1913, By means Of
money raised BY a lottery, they erected a
larger and better Church on Saratoga
street. near GAY, where now stands the
Bethel a. VI. +. Church This was the
congregation which later moved 10 Gay
street. and Is now the Zion Independent
Lutheran congregation. The first Balti-
more church that associated itself with the
General Synod was the First Church con
gregation. now located at the corner Of
Fremont avenue and Lanvale street, Rev.
DIR. A. H. Studebaker, pastor. The First
Church was organized on October p, 1923.
On august 30, 1924, Rev. Mr.. Kranch
became its pastor At that time the First
Church congregation worshiped in school
house. located near the corner of Howard
and Pratt streets. The corner stone OF the
First Church, located then on Lexington
street. between Park and Howard streets,
was laid in November, 1925. The church
-.