Evening star., 1897-06-15
GETTING DOWN TO WORK
Lutheran Synod at Mansfield Transacts
~~sss
Much Business.
Ministers, Beginning to be Impatient
to Return to Their Homes, Hurry
Up the Proceedings.

The Lutheran synod, which has been in
session at Mansfield, Ohio, for several days,
got down to hard work yesterday and
more business was transacted during the
morning session than has come before
the convention since its beginning. AS a
starter. resolution was passed inform
Ing the citizens of Mansfield that the in
vitation to be shown around the city, which
the synod had decided to accept. could not
be accepted at all, owing to the pressure
OF business and the limited time for its
transaction.
A number Of the ministers are becoming
impatient to return home. and the mileage
committee, with which all return transpor-
tation was fixed at the opening of the
synod, reported that numerous requests
have been made for return tickets. BY the
rules of the synod no delegate is allowed to
leave the city except by permission of the
assembly.
Rev. Cromer's Statement.
Rev. ]. N. Cromer of Kansas City
caused little ripple Of excitement ut the
opening of the morning session by stating
that certain newspapers had printed ar
tcleS stating that the synod had been di-
vided In the election of officers by parli-
san differences between the conservatives
and radicals, and that the tide of election
was turned through the influence of the
conservatives. Rev. Cromer stated that
the articles were misstatemen.s as the
synod was perfectly and wholly Lar
monious body, and that no influences what
ever had been brought to bear in the cleo
ton. He thea introduced a resolution that
the synod express disapproval of the re-
ports, which was adopted.
After these preliminaries the regular or
DER was proceeded with, and Rev H. H.
Weber, general secretary of the board of
cnurch extension, submitted the fourteenth
biennial report. The receipts from the
churches have been larger than during the
previous two years.
Report Board of Church Extension.
Ihe receipts. including the balance, were
s'''''-' an increase of over q per cent,
quite a number of the synods having ex-
ceeoed their apportion. The kequests
amounted to s3,713 a decrease of SLIP
but the general secretary knew personally
OF over 81 600 that had been nut into wills
Tor the board. Nineteen churches had re
turned their loans in full or in part Loans
donations and special appropriations
amounting to $14,159 had been made to IT'S
churches, 81 more than during the preced
ing two years
The total assets of the board are $3.50 SCI
are s264. .721.
The board asked for an apportionment of
$55,OOO for the next two years.
Ihls was followed by the report Of Treas
urer Carl.
The balance on hand June s, 1895, was
-, I69, and the receipts during the biennum
were 1859, making 50. 1853 available Dis
bursements were $5.S15, the balance on
hand May I, 1897, being $685..
Report of Denconess Board.
The report of the deaconess board Was
submitted by Rev. F. P. Manhart The
Lutheran deaconess house was opened in
Baltimore in October, 1895. The growth of
the institution was SO rapid that additional
room was made necessary, and this was
secured in September, 1896 At present
there are in the institution seven deacon
esses. six probation and two candidates.
In answer to question: Rev. Manhart ex-
planned that young women becoming dea-
conesses do not assume life vows but
have the prerogative of leaving the work
at any time they so desire.
Donations in the way of necessities of life
have been very liberal, and cash donations
have amounted to s265. The receipts of the
deaconness hoard from the different syn
DDS during the biennium amounted to
N,123; the expenses, 81 ,433, leaving a cash
balance of $3.50.
The report of Louis Mauss, treasurer of
the general synod, was submitted and
showed a deficiency of 81 500. The SYNOD
passed resolution to make a temporary
loan to cover this deficiency.
Report Of Statistical Secretary.
The report of Willis Hinman, statistical
secretary, was then submitted. 1t said 1t
would be cause Of regret that the finan-
cial depression of the past few years had
affected the work.
There are at present in the district SYM
DDS. 1,508 churches: gain of 80 in two
years; 205 preaching stations; gain of S3.
There were 312 students for the ministry
a decrease OF II. The losses numbered
II, AZ, but the accessions were 3694O, of
which 1880 were by confirmation. The
present communicate membership Is 1884,
12S, an Increase Of II 800 over the previous
biennium. The value of the property owned
by the churches Is $11 ,743, 7S9, a gain of
81 1885, 402. The Indebtedness is 81 1875 S12
an increase Of $50, ,s92. The local expenses
Of the congregations were s., SSS 474 a de-
crease of $103. 1865.
There are 1852 Sunday schools. an in
crease Of 1877, with 23,O61 teachers an in
crease OF III, and 1S6, 1854 scholars. a gain
Of 1883. The schools contributed for local
objects. $212. .SS4, which was $1O,7O4 more
than In the previous biennium, and gave
for benevolence, $s9,919, a decrease of
$S, 190. There are enrolled in the younr
peoples societies. A.248 members, who con.
tributed $5O,0S5 for local objects and S18-
34S for benevolence. The total benevolent
Of the congregations were
$5O9, ,46S. a decrease of sos, $50. The total
Of moneys raised for all purposes was
$3,OO0,620. decrease of $12O, ,79S It was
noted that the decrease was largely due to
the falling 0ff NJ rih