Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-10-07
LUTHERAN SYNOD.
QUESTION
RECEIVES ATTENTION.

L
Missionary Life in the Congrega.
| tion Also is Discussed - Chris.
| tian Liberty Discussed by Rev.
| Simons and Others This Morn
| ing
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
1 Aft1r opening with religions ex-
ereises by the chaplain, Ptof. a.
Phneoer, and reading and correcting
of the minutes, synod proceeded TO
hear the paper of Rev. L Pfeifer. OF
| Fremont, Ohio, on the subject of The
| Development of Missionary Life in the
Congregation. Missionary life is es-
sential TO missionary work. This latter
| refers to all efforts TO plant ard nour-
ish religious life in the hearts of men
in all nations of this earth. There Is
| not among Christians that fullness of
energy and zeal e essary to the com
pIete success of the work which
should be the ideal of Gods children
There is lack OF faith and true mis-
sionary life often because of the want
| of real spirituality. We must
aim at creating and developing Z
this life, which is done only by
the grace of God. Missionary life Is
the endeavor of the believer TO live the
| life of child of God. l. joins the
Lord with the workman. No success
can be locked for except where there
is true godliness. This will always be
found expending itself in saving souls.
The lives of FRANKIE, Harms and others
Illustrate this. We are dependent not
on numbers and outward organization.
but on the grace of God working in Us
Often individuals and congregations
are, through Ignorance and lack of in
teligent leadership, very lax ard III
d fferent in the work. We nerd NOR
funds, but there is something more
necessary still. and that is.
we must above all develop
a missionary spirit by thor ugh
instruction IN the duty and
Importance of absolute dependence up
on God IN all our work. q d builds
the church, and without Him We can
not build When He makes us be
lievers He makes us laborers in His
vineyard, in all directions according t.
the ability given us. Lot Us see t. i
and grow in grace in the knowledge
Of our Lord Jesus Christ. To this end
let US use the divinely instituted
means Of grace We are not dead as
synod, we have done much. yet there
Is great room for improvement.
FRIDAY MORNING.
Divine services were conducted by
the chaplain, after which the minutes
of yesterday were read and adopted.
Rev. Simons' work on Christian Lib
erty then came in for further discus
sion. Heather customs, according to
ST. Paul, were adopted or rejected by
individual Christians according TO Cir
cumstances. This refers not to mat
ters of morality, but to outward Gus
toms of life. The Christian in his as
sociation with the world adapts him self
to the civil and social customs of the
world so far as this may seem to be for
their good. being careful not to endan
ger his own soul. Christ was tie
friend of publican and sinner, yet
never in such a way that he approved
their sinful life.
How may we use this liberty right
was the next point. The sale and use
Of strong drink on the part of Chris
tians must be so regulated that no one
will be injured by it. Christ was called
winebibber by envious enemies.
The fanatical view TO consider that
every touching, tasting, handling OF
wine and other strong drink is in
itself sinful. condemns Christ himself
and His noblest apostles. Yet let US not
forget that if meat and drink ca1se our
brother to be weakened IN his faith or
to sin. we are transgressing the law
of love, by leading him astray through
temptation and liberty must be used
for the general good
The question was asked whether it
| would not be well for US to abstain
from use of strong drink al
| together as beverage, simply for
| the sake of throwing our influence
against giving any offense. Several
stated that TO be their personal prae-
| tiee for years. The saloon bushes 5
was characterized, as usually carried
on, as crime, and the organization as
/ a power that was combating our gov
erument We as good citizens are
bound to uphold the authorities God
has placed over US. Instances were
cited where through example others
were led to drunkenness. We are safe
if we abstain. Let US not use our
liberty as cloak of unrighteousness.
If we are free, we are just as much so
if we abstain as if we partake. Love
TO man should decide. While all
things are lawful. all are not ex-
pedient. \ saloon run on Christie 4
principles would not pay the bar
keeper. Some people use liquor
as a medicine. but they take too much
medicine of this kind. On the other
hand, to refuse TO take the wine IN the
Lords supper is to commit sin IN the
other direction. Christians 81 o lid not
Il courage tte saloo n b J patgo 4age. be
Icause it is aiding al ungodly institu
tion-
4 The work this afternoon was along
the line of church business.
Homing Pigeons.