Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-06-30
TWO LUTHERAN SYMBOLS
What Separates the Bodies Now in
Session.

What Separates the Bodies Now in
Session.
Under the above caption Mondays
Milwaukee Sentinel prints the follow
ing matter of local interest:
To those not familiar with the organization
of the Lutheran church it seems somewhat
peculiar that two bodies representing the same
religious denomination should be in session at
ene same nd 5lm e gong Gsfr about the
good wishes of each for the success of the
other.
:, Such, however. is the relationship between
the Wisconsin district of the Missouri synod
and the Wisconsin synod both of which have
been in session in this city for nearly a week
Prof A. F. Ernst, of Northwestern university
OF WatertOwn, said to Sentinel representative
that several attempts have been made to unite
the two synods, but in each case they have
failed.
Il suppose it is property consideration that
keeps us apart" remarked the professor, land
yet cannot see why this should be So for the
reason that the property involved is a source
of expense rather than revenue. The Missouri
synod is few years older than the Wisconsin
synod. 1t originally embraced the state of
Missouri and from there it extended over 9th
er states, and became so large that it had to
be divided into districts The expense of its
maintenance is much greater than that of the
Wisconsin synod, which covers the states of
Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and the Da-
kotas. l suppose I might say that there is
difference in the sentiments that inspire the
two bodies.
1--WE of the Wisconsin synod. for example.
make the study of the English language one of
the principal features of our schools We want
to Americanize the German. Now [ am a
German, and love my native land, but I think
we have customs that might be replaced with
American ideas with profit. | would not do
this by legal enactment, but teaching it in our
schools. The political parties think by putting
up German saloonkeeper they can secure the
German vote. This is a great mistake. The
German vote is represented by the quiet church
member, and he would rather vote against his
cOuntryman than to put such men in office.
What we want is the greatest liberty for our
selves, and we are willing to grant the same to
others The use abuse of that liberty is
question of education.
1.-THE saloon is becoming unpopular with the
young German. There has been a great change
in this respect during the last five or six years,
and it will increase, not under the influence of
Sunday laws OF temperance laws, but under the
influence of better teaching Some time ago
agent of the Sabbath Observance society called
on me at WatertOwn and asked me if | was in
favor of closing the saloons on Sunday
answered that was
Twill you and your people sign petition to
the mayor for that purpose?' he asked No
sir, L replied; that Is not the way to work !;
that is contrary to the teachings of the church;
that Is using force instead of Christian persu-
aston.
''Will you call a public meeting of your
people to consider the subject?
well, the public meeting was called and
while the people were in favor of Sunday clos
ing, they all Of them voted against obtaining it
in that manner. No sir, the German is fast be-
coming Americanized. would rather read the
American than the German newspapers. There
are others like me and they are growing more
numerous every day. Now, | am going to tell
you, the Missouri synod is inclined to stick
closer to the old fashioned German notions and
the German language than we are and 1T is for
this reason, believe, that we cannot unite with
the Wisconsin district of that body"