The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-05
THE LUTHER LEAGUE.
Biennial Convention Next Week at St. Paul-They Are Growing in Member shin at Tremendous Pace.

Biennial Convention Next Week at St.
 Paul-They Are Growing in Member ship at Tremendous Pace.
 The Hartford Times in letter from St. Paul, Minn., has the following in reference to the Luther league wsich mas an important branch in this city:
 Young Lutherans in large numbers are coming westward just now to at tend the biennial convention Uf the Luther league of America. to be ntIl ih the Twin Cities. Tuesday to Thurs day, July Sth to 10th. Although more Lutherans live west than east of 1he Mississippi river, this is the first time the young people have come west of | Chicago with their convention. Until recently the clements winch compose | the church in the west were ind;afer- ent or antagonistic to the league. TIut in the earnest invitation from :he Twin Cities, and in the keen interest | throughout the west there is proof of the rapid Americanlzing of the foreign element so strong among the Luther ans of almost all parts of the country, save perhaps the extreme east.
 ! 4lC EAlllGA 4CoIlAHA4AG LC4AdSIiNS pGkl | ly to be credited to the work and in- fiuence of the league, which, on the basis of the unaltered Augsburgh Con- fession, welcomes Lutherans of all tongues and synods, and is the only organization in America that is repre- sentative of every phase of Lutheran ism. With it's official language. Eng 1 fish, it holds an important place in the economy of the church as the most ilI- portant agency for the Americanizing and harnonizing if not the entire uni fication of this great body of Ameri- ! can Protestants. Thus is the league more helpful to the Lutheran body than young peoples organizations in other religious bodies.
 The work of the league during the past biennium has been largely exten- sion and educational. That the work has been pushed the new state leagues and numerous district organizations bear witness Educational work has been thorough and extensive. Reading courses, embracing historical doctrinal, practical, devotional and evangelistic series have been in general use, and | WILL lLS lAuLIlGI I4SdEuS 4NCNAS" have done much to strengthen the loy- alty, deepen the devotion and quicken the activity. Much credit in the lit erary work of these young Lutherans is due to the Rev. Dr. Fry of St. Luke's Philadelphia, who is the first and only literary secretary of the l league.
 Although eastern delegations, be- cause of distance, may not exceed those of former conventions, the west promises large numbers by special trains. There will be new members in attendance, but the numbers will probably be the largest in the history of the league. The perfect local ar- engagements are chiefly due to the Rev. Dr. A. J. D. Haupt, former Philadel- phian. W. c. Stoever, Philadelphia lawyer, is the national president, and r. A. Hartranft, Esq, another Phila- delphia lawyer, is the chief speaker at the auditorium mass meeting. Two other Philadelphians are on the pro- gramme. They are the Revs. G. w.. Candt and c. S. Albert D. D. But other cities are to be represented in the programme and convention. Gov ernor Van Sant of Minnesota, the Rev. Dr. Swenson of Bethany college, Kan sas, who thought so much of his col- lege that he refused an offer of nona- ination to the governorship of Kansas, Professor Andreen, z until recently of Yale, now president of the large Au- | gustana college and Theological sem l mary and the Rev pr T Fl. HarD- ster, the veteran missionary to India, are among the speakers.
 "Lutherans not only stand fourth in number of communicant membership among religious bodies in America, but they are growing in membership at a tremendous pace. Their growth beats population growth at six to one. For example, Chicago Synod increased in membership during the year ended June last, 20 per cent. and the General Council organized last year three new synods."