New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-16
A DEFENCE OF GERMAN LCTHEkANS'

THE REV. J. B. sEMENsNYDER ANSWERS cRirI'
crsMs MADE AT THE BAPTIST CONFERENCE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
s,y friend calls my attention to the report IN a
recent issue Of The Tribune OF an attack AT the a'e
Baptist Conference at Asbury PARK py Dap'is'
missionary to Germany. made upon the German poo
n and the Lutheran Church This attack Is %
Indignantly bitter and violent as to carry with s
own refutation; still. perhaps II shouio "o' 20.
entirely unnotced. Its arraignmeht Oh ING mn 80
of the German nation. to w.t. that IN large cues !"
nor cent OF all men are impure ana is hoiu'"s
u, German men and women as "a hideous picture
before the civilized world, do not hesitate 10 eha
.o,.r,zs az a gross and monstrous SANDER Ihe TO-
bust physcal manhood of the German people, 'no
splendid physique OF their armies, their pfoVerua.
love OF home wife and children, ther uhi'"''eu
mental energy their leadership In scientific ih'eS-
cations their work as original thinkers and precep-
tors of the world in the field OF theology as Wen as
their aggressiveness in the world OF industry ana
trade all refute the charge of this immoral and en-
feebling pollution and show viriie MANHOOD WHICH
stamps the accusation as travesty OF inc Ia"'s
Rut II possible more slanderous still are the
charges made by this reckless assaiant against the
Lutheran Church. "In 1884," he says, Il attenoeo
services in a Lutheran church in Hamburg. There
were eighteen persons present. That church mas
membership OF 400" The inference Is that the
Lutheran churches in Germany are deserted a
friend, the Rev. DR.. Nenner telis me t"a' no q.
tended very probably. this same church, Oh MS
| list yts,t 10 Europe and found IL crowded to the
doors The Lutheran churches in the German Clues
are generally cathedrals. holding huihosr oi SCI
Vices at various hours on Sunday and oi'eh aa'i"s
the week, and, selecting some or hese se'''Se''
YOU may find a very small attendance, Jusl as
| large and prosperous church In New-forK Ciy d.
certain service held last Ascension Day had put d
! congrega ton Of ten The writer's experience nas
been that in Berlin. Nuremberg. Leipsc' Dresaeh
and other cities he has found at the chief SUNDAY
morning service in the hottest part OF the summer
congregations Of thousands. such as no frotes'ahs
church in this city could accommodate
This pnulIpic goes on For the great masses In
! Germany religion and morality nave no "ec"sa.s
connection, and they see nothing improper Al
thieves, drunkards. debauches ana PROSTITUTES &c
naming members Of the Church" The outrageous
| falsity OF this charge cannot be moro enectua'y
established than by the fact that the German Luz
therans coming to this country are 30 inuch no'e
careful and rigorous in their exercise Oh c"ufsn Us
cipline than Americans, that the Germans are CON
stantly Directing the laxity OF Engish-speahi"s
Iu,bsrans and were to be as strict as toey' I"
would rend our English congregations III t"o'"'
n,ar structures as TO societies Is an instance
The monstrous unruth Of this charge OF aduiterers
proetitutes, etc, being In fuii commuhio" ohu 500
standing IN the Church. 10 shown by the taci 'nss
| IN Germany our Lutheran Church retains the prso-
tce OF personal confession, !. e., every me"oe'
| ,,,au, hefore communion and convince him tnat ne
"a leading a truly Christian life or he Will not De
admitted to the Sacrament And however mucn
more liberal We may be in our practice We cahho.
but admire their moral COURAGE eAee''N '
great loss and sacrifice
| THAT the Lutheran Church In Germany makes no
Ia,uate ARRANGEMENT Qn church accommodatonD
o., tba religious instruction" OF the people Is SIM
! ,larly untrue A late number OF Inc lhoepe"as'
! shows that the German Empire has Lutheran
,onulat,on Of 81 900 and upward OF zoo" chu9ches
or church for every LOO people old ana youns' OF
| ,or about every three hundred adults. As many OF
| - ara great cathedrais. accommodating-as the
lin ca thedral-30o00 worshppers. II VIII De ssen
the sh careful nsstrucon daily Tor
the young In the Bible. creed. catechis" @i'o N""
As to the further charge that tse smnsra,s
church in Germany does not eensure ,ne on total
abstinence It need only be said that sae mere '0,
lows The example Of the aso the eacings Of St.
,vi himself and has reverent regard to the &c.
e H lsrs r Els sos at Cana
re yr mmors s2ss and aSas ss
and Is chef eSs' Ss' DOUBT ss as sS.r:
IN Pas s t fS9@ss ana and religious
the IN Just sa, as churches we sss
by hsm a s he t he La IN
are to be held up to other nations and Chrse ss
0Iss St sis s s u S @
to il as Of
years have there been 80 many earnest ana eiS-
na is simple evangelical and clear. there the people
flock to the fulfiirnent Of Chrtsts words, u II be
lifted up, viii draw all men unto Me- SO may It
ever be-" -, ,,.
Crosby writes from Germany: I'VE have been most
agreeably surprised by the spiritual preaching We
have heard everywhere in Germany. making one
feel thai the only real strength comes from Script
ure owledge brought to remembrance or the Holy
Shirt" And Professor c. F. Behringer In a recent
summary OF statistics shows that 'out OF Lutheran
population OF 10000 in Prussia, Sssoi@ had com.
muned within the year-a better showing than this
country can MAKE Tnese sfnsrou ns estimates s's
The Lutheran Church which gave prosstantsm
distributed through all countries Of the globe az
no time more evangelical In her teachings, ana
devout IN her practice, and more energetic IN
Christian than at present
The anmus OF this uncaled-for attack ana mis-
representation In twofold First, some persons can
have no toeratlon for type N Christianity which
| Is diverse from their own; second when IL sent
| as missionary 10 a Lutheran country to convert
IL 10 Christianity 1t is doubtless incumbent on him
] J. 3. REMENSNYDNA