Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-05-03
TWO CENTS
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
A Short History of Foundation
and Growth
0f This Branch OF the Christian Faith
Derivation of the Name From whence
Comes Its Articles OF Faith Prac.
tices Adhered to MANY Things Of
Interest about the Church.

Il
Interest about the Church.
The Lutheran chuych at this place
will be dedicated on next Sunday.
The sermon viii be preached by
Rev. j L. Smith, Of pittsburg, who
organized the mission here. The
services will be very we'll attended.
Further notice Of this will be given
morrow.
One of the members of the church
was asked to give our readers some.
thing concerning the institution, its
history, faith and practices and he
has given US the following which we
present in turn to our readers:
The name Lutheran comes to her,
| like the name christians came to
the early Christians. It was term
of reproaeh, but Luther and his
friends accepted it in good part,
though their choice Of name was
the Evangelical church. This lat.
ter name is still current in the title
Evangelical Lutheran church. Ii
is not to be COMPOUNDED with the
present day Evangelical church, nor
with the state church of Germany,
which is a combination of Lutheran
and Reformed elements.
| In some points of doctrine this de-
nomination differs from all other de-
nominations, and of course in others
agrees with the orthodox churches.
| We accept the Apostles creed in
Guiding the descent into hell, or as
some state, the descent into the
place of departed spirits. We accept
the Nicene creed, we accept the
Athenasian creed, believing that the
Holy Spirit has been the inspiring
source of the church's truth, and
therefore that truth Is to be accept
ed. Evidently this denomination il
not ereedless church, which uses
Gods word as its standard Of faith
and doctrine. Gods word is TO her
the infallible rule of faith and doc
trine, but, since all men have some
notion Of what book teaches, so
our creed states our belief of Gods
word.
Under the circumstances existing
at the period Of the Reformation, it
became necessary to present the
points of divergence from the Ro-
man Catholic church, to diet com
posed of prominent ecclesiastical
and secular authorities of that
church for consideration and judg-
ment. A number OF these statements
were prepared and discussed, and
finally developed into the Augsburg
Confession, which was presented
June 18th, 1880, at Augsburg, and
is the underlying doctrinal state
ment Of all Lutherans.
The Marburg, Ichuabach and Tor
gan articles are the chief statements
entering the Augustana.
Chronologically, the Augsburg
confession is the senior confession in
the Christian church Subsequent to
the Apostle $, Nicene and Athenas-
ian creed J, giving fairly full state
ment OF doctrines by considerable
number Of persons, and at the same
time being authoritative over a CON
siderable area. At the present date
some fifty to sixty millions acknow.-
edge it in many languages
The lines of Lutheran theology
radiate from Christ the Savior. 1t
is distinctly Christie centric. Faith
is large factory, reason is hand
maid to faith not the reverse, works
are essential to living faith.
AS at the Reformation period, SO
to-day, the Lutheran church differs
from al. others on the doctrine of
the Lords Supper. 1t is called, SO
far as one can name the mysterious;
ssthe Sacramento Presence" 1t is
not onsubstantiation, Transubstan-
tiation, spiritual eating nor simple
memorial.
Keeping in mind St Paul's state
ment concerning worthy eating
we have preparatory or confessional
service preceding communion. The
word preparatory is self explanaso-
ry. We do not give a general lnvi-
tation to the communion
The Lutheran church believes in
and practices baptism. She believes
in infant baptism and practices it
She believes in spiritual regenera-
ton with baptism. She acknowl-
edges the validity of immersion.
when properly performed and &C
cepts it, also pouring, but practices
sprinkling or species Of pouring
only.
Esteeming the Gospel OF Christ
the power of God unto Salvation, to
these that believe, this denomina
tion believes in beginning the in
structive process at the cradle and
continuing it unto the grave. Re
vlvals, as such, are not carried on to
any considerable extent the basis
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