Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-20
ANNUAL CONVENTION
MARYLAND LUTHERAN SYNOD
AT CUMBERLAND.

Maryland synod or the Lutheran CnuTch
met here In st. Paurs Church this even ng
There was a large attendance. The Balti-
more and Washington delegates arrived this
afternoon in special cars on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. The annual sermon was
preached by the president, DR.. Dunbar. of
baltimore His subject THE First
Church Council" the text being from Acts
xy:3: And the apostles and elders came
together for to consider of this matter
He said in part:
''This is the record of the first great coun-
Gil of the Christian church. Assembled in
convention let us look back to that first
council for our profit and guidance and to
catch something of its spirit.
This meeting settled a great doctrinal
question The point at Issue was of ire
mendous concern. 1t was deemed of SUM-
Client Importance to summon a council 10
consider 1t. Less a man than PAU would
have said Let it go; It is only a matter
of opinion But Paul saw deeper than
this. We hear men say: 1T matters not
what we believe We hear men cry:
Peace, peace; no controversy; 1t shames
the church But false doctrine is death to
the church and death to souls 1t Is bet
ter to contend for the faith once delivered
to the saints than TO keep silence IN the
face of unbel!ef for the sake of peace.
IL
ciple of Christian liberty. The Judean
teachers laid down the doctrine, Except ye
be circumcised after the manner of Moses,
We cannot be saved Bind that yoke upon
the Christian church and Christian liberty
Is gone. Paul opposed the doctr ne with
all his might. He showed that TINS was
but the letter. and not the spirit. He re-
yealed a broader life. And upon TINS prln-
ciple of spiritual liberty the great question
was settled. 1t was a great day for the
church of all generations. We rejoice IN
that liberty today. 1t Is the glory OF Chris-
tIanity the glory of Professionalism, the
glory of Lutheransm. Let US never again
permit ourselves to be bound by the letter
of form simply because they have the rec
ord of centuries behind them.
This meeting applies vital doctrine 10
the practical work of the church. And all
the earnestness of controversy the pract cai
work asserts itself as the dominating IN
terest of that first council. After all. TINS
WAS the overwhelming thing. the conversion
of the heather. And so is 1t today. In the
presence of this work sound doctrine does
not become less, but more, important. Men
say: Let doctrine go; we must give our
time and energy to the work But the
practical work of the church Is Dependent
on sound doctrine. 1t pleased God by the
fooIiShneSS of preaching to bring ABOUT the
conversion of the world. And preaching
does not mean the utterance of moral platl-
tudes, but the proclamation of truth.
This meeting resulted in bringing the
brethren together in harmonious unity
They had been suspicious of each other
They were comparative strangers. Goa
spirit ruled. His word was made Aupreme
.= authority, and the result was one for which
the church has praised God through the
e centuries. That council might have rent
the church; it bound 1t together. So need
Gods people to stand together today.
speaking for Gospel truth and standing for
Gospel liberty.
Tomorrow morning the president will read
his report and new officers be elected. In
the afternoon mission work in Virginia Will
hoy no ri pbt of WaV followed
Grafton of the report of the committee on
apportionment. which is expected to pro-
woke much discussion, The synod VIII
probably adjourn Monday evening.
The churches of Washington, d. c., are
represented as follows St Paurs Rev.
John T. Huddle and Mr.. Harry T. Domer'
Memorial. Rev. ]. G. Butler. D. D.. and Mr.
George Ryneal jr.; Reformation. Rev. w
F. Parson, d. D.. and Mr.. F. H. Parsons;
Keller Memorial Rev. Charles H Butter;
St Marks, Rev. ]. Luther Frantz and MI
Cornelius Eckhardt Zion. Rev. A. f. Berg
ner and Mr. William Martini Georgetown.
Mr. William a. Pettis. St. Johns and
the Church of the Redeemer are not repre-
sented
The synod will take up the request of
Rev +. w Moot. former pastor of st.
PauIs Church, Washington. ID. G, to be
reinstatei in the ministry. Rev. Mr. Moot
is now al CObeSkiN N Y. in business, ana
II is understood that he desires to supply
country congregation in the state of New
York in the vicinity of Schenectady. Two
istry because of his speculation in the stock
market. The synod's ban Rev Mr.. Moot.
who was publicly censured, was to remain
until he met his debts. 1t is expected that
the debate on the subject will be spirited,
as it is intended that it be finally dis
posed of.
Bethany Church, Baltimore, which year
ago withdrew from the Maryland Synod,
has resciuded its action and now comes
with Il request for advice. In view of the
financial interests involved. recommended
ton is made shat tie matter be referred
to the officers af the eastern conference
Notice has bgCn received of a bequest OF
Miss Jemima w Sanks of Frederick, but
formerly 4 member of the Third Church of
Baltimore, thereby from S1.20) to $500
800 into possess on of TIE synod to
lbe used - educate young EeI for the min
Rev Dr. A. T. Wagner seeks the coop
Grafton of Maryland Synod in project to
establish summer school in connection
with Northfield. the same to be under the
control of the Lutheran Church
The recently organized congregation in
Baltimore. Emmanuel, of which Rev w. c.
Stoudenmire has been elected pastor. makes
application for reception into the synod.
This congregation Will build in East Baltt-
more. Its pastor was formerly the agent
of the Maryland Prisoners Aid Society.
President Dunbar presented his annual
report this morning. He announced the
deaths of two members of the synod the
Rev Christian Lepley, aged ninety-three,
and the Rev. George ReCkiey. aged seventy
six. Seven ministers have been dismissed
20 other syuOds and ten received. Six MN
listers have been installed. three corner
. stones laid and three churches dedicated
during the year, while six church editices
have been extensively renovated and re-
paired
< The president was instructed TO protest
TO the joint synod of Ohio against the
synodiCal interference involved in the cleo
70 ton Of joint synod man pastor at Ell
HCOtt City. \ courteous reply from the
president Of that body made It clear that
no violation OF intersynodical courtesy was
intended. The congregation has given re-
specttul notice of its withdrawal from this
synod.
Or Dunbar recommended that the COM
( mtJec on the state of the church be made
T stanuing committee. to which pastors re-
f ports be sent In advance of the meeting of
synod. thus giving more time for considera-
uCn and assuring a more comprehensive
and satisfactory report.
The presidents report was referred TO a
committee. and viii be reported upon at a
later session of the synod
Immediately following the presidents re-
pert officers Were elected for the ensuing
year. All of the cid officers We're reelected