Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-08-25
THEIR GENERAL SYNOD,
Important Meeting of Lutherans Held
Here Last Week.

O0n6fdl ENdnS0lIcal LuInofan synod,
comprising the states of Wisconsin,
Michigan, Minnesota and several 9th
er of the Northwestern states, began at
st. Marks church last Thursday morn
ing at 10 o'clock with devotional exer-
cises conducted by the president, Prof
A. F. Ernst, of this city. The confer
ence continued until Sunday and the
attendance of delegates numbered
over 100. Meetings were held each
morning, afternoon and evening.
The first business session opened
Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.
After roll call and organization Presi-
dent Ernst delivered his annual ad-
dress, in which he alluded to the
work performed since the last session
and mentioned some Of the prevailing
conditions which were hindering the
work in the Lutheran church. The
societies that were being organized in
the churches were not propagating the
Christian principles and did not aid
materially in building up their
churches. He reviewed the work in the
different states and spoke very encour-
agingly of the prospects of the future.
The address was followed by the
election of officers, which resulted as
follows: President, Prof A f. Ernst;
vice-president, Rev. G. Grunzewitz,
St Paul; secretary, Rev A. Schroe-
del, Winona, Mimi. treasurer, Rev.
Mr.. Knuth, Milwaukee.
At Friday mornings session a dis
cussion was had over the withdrawal
of the Michigan conference from the
synod. A contingent, however, was
reported to have remained loyal and
they sought recognition. Rev. Julius
Kingman, of Ann Arbor, president of
the Michigan conference, spoke about
the breach in the state and asked the
general synod to consider them as
substitute for the withdrawal contin-
gent. By large majority the loyal
portion was recognized.
A report concerning the work among
the Apache Indians in Arizona was
read and adopted. The work in that
district was begun in October, 1898,
when Rev. j. Plocher was sent out.
A year ago Rev. Paul Meyerhoff was
sent to Camp Pache, while the former
has been at San Carlos. Missionary
Plocher has established a school
which now numbers 10 pupils. The
bible and the catechism are taught
and the English language is being
learned by many. 1t was voted to
appropriate 81, 400 for a new parson-
age at Camp Pache. Rev. Mr.. Ploch-
err, owing to ill-health, is at present
in Wisconsin to recuperate, and will
return in four weeks to continue the
work.
The reports from the colleges were
next presented. The largest college
is the Northwestern university, organ
lied in 1898 The growth in attend
ance has been gradual and last years
record showed 10 students enrolled.
Eight teachers are employed. The
Evangelical Lutheran theological
seminary is another Institution sup
ported by the general conference. 1t
is located at Wauwatosa, with Rev. E.
Hoenecke as president, and was or
ganized in 1879. Last year there
were thirty students in attendance
and three teachers were employed.
The third institution is located at
New Ulm, Mimi, and is known as DR..
Martin Luther's college. It was or
ganized in 1884, and Rev. E. Schaeler
is president. The attendance last
year was sixty-seven and five teachers
are employed.
The report of the treasurer shows
that the receipts during the year were
$28, and the disbursements
$28, 8,522.27.
Rev. Adolph Toebel, of Iron Ridge,
the statistician of the general synod,
presented some interesting figures in
his report. In Wisconsin there are
189 pastors, 320 churches, 1909
members privileged to vote and
"a, 984 communicates. Minnesota has
So pastors, 100 churches, 4, 155 mem
bers privileged to vote aud 7,476
communicates. In Michigan there
are II pastors, 16 churches and 4,056
communicates. Total, 256 pastors,
440 churches, O,OU9 YOU'VE members
and 116, SIG communicates. In the
general synod there are 228 parochial
schools, 100 teachers, 12,O09 children;
$71, ,656.S0 was received in the past
two years for benevolent purposes, of
which $19,616.30 was expended for
the seminaries and $3,265.32 for the
work among the Apache Indians in
Arizona. In the past two years thir-
ty-one pastors were ordained, twenty
seven being from Wisconsin.
Friday evening the synod was ad-
dressed by Rev. Julius Klingman,
president of the Michigan conference.
A leading question discussed during
the session was the adoption of the
English language more generally by
the Lutheran churches and schools.
1t was freely expressed that there was
need of more English teaching and
the sense of the synod was that an
English professorship should be estab-
| lished at the Wauwatosa seminary as
a starter in the new departure. 1t
was finally decided to place compet-
ent person in temporary charge of
this line of work at Wauwatosa, pend
| inp more definite action hv tho roviCio,,