New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-29
BIENNIAL LUTHERAN GENERAL COtNCIL.
ADDRESS OF THE REV. Or EDWARD F. MOL
DENKE OF THIS cITY-NEED OF rN-
FORM MARRIAGE 1Aws-oLD FAITH
TO he SUSTAINED.

To BE SUSTAINED
Chicago. Sept 2s-The first formal session Of
the twenty seventh biennial conference Of the
Lutheran General Council was held here to-day.
195 delegates representing 10000 COMMITMENTS
in every part Of the continent being present
The session opened with the celebration Of tho
Lords Supper. after which addresses were deliv-
cred by the Rev Dr George Haas, president OF
the New York Minsterium. and by the Rev. Dr.
a L. Yount president of the Pttsburg Synod.
Dr Edward f. Modenk Of New-York president
OF the Council delivered his biennial address
which received CLOSE attention In part he said
In the past two years new congregations nave
been organized and many new churches built much
missionary work has been done. the institutions
Of mercy supported and ih"ir number ihcrcdstd
ana our theological seminary ana co,lrsei man H.
GcspOtc oppression which the Lutheran 'htTrn
In Russia has suffered for many years. and which
at last has reached the law abiding and submissive
pi0sptrous ana enlightened poputall"h OF Lu t'n
eran Finland. many thousands Of Fins are leaving
shores While this immigration IS of great value
10 our Church and benefit to our country, II
Russia. which casts off her best children thereby
following the bad example formerly set by France
same sad harvest Of her wicked deeds.
II cannot be denied that the English language Is
eally Of the rising generation, ard it Is matter
tion Of the General Council is actively engaged IN
i is a great dshonor to our country that mat
riage. and especially divorces and rcmarriages are
publicly treated IN frivolous manner. That the
various States have enacted contradictory laws
IN this respect is source OF bitter complaint. II
is deplorabe state Of affairs when the daily
papers refer jokingly ~ the marriages between
men and their mOthers-in-law or their step moth
crs. We should send petition 10 Congress ask
ing for uniform laws concerning marriages and
divorces for the whole country
Brethren We live in time when many turn
from the truth 10 fables and ever growing super
sutiOns. Spiritualists. christian hcalers and Sci
entists. M0rmOns. new "IIcavcuy prophets" Budd-
histlc Theosophists and others organize societies
and disseminate their peruicious tcnets and on
the other hand atheists matoralists agnostics
socialists and anarchists manifest their hatred Of
Church and State and the conservative principles
Or the same. While within the Presbyterian McthO-
dist. Baptist and Epscopaan denominations the
cXponcnts OF the sO-callcd higher criticism under
mine the very foundations u Christian truth bv at
tacking the Holy Scriptures. Iu the midst OF AN
these bitter contentious and parties that with
a determination and decision uuheard of In former
times we Luthorans not relying on princes or
political influence. not on wealth or powerful
nicuds, but solely on the protection Of our Lord
must well remember S. Pauls admonltion:
watch ye. stand fast IN the faith" Quit You Ike
men be strong and proclaim truth Of the old saw
ing
Gods word and Luther's lore
Remaincth now and evermore."