The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-07-03

From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
Today's attendance at the Lutheran
synod meeting was still greater than
yesterdays. About fifteen ministers
who nad been detained for various
reasons reported present, while seven
more delegates from the laity We're
seated. The forenoon session was de-
voted, as is customary, to doctrinal
discussions, the Rev. Professor j.
Schaller of New Ulm reading a thesis,
an extract of which will be found
appended to this article. During the
afternoon session the synod continued
to transact its business.
Among the works of charity con-
Quoted by the synod is the care for
the aged. For the old and feeble
without a home and the proper care
the synod has provided both by erect
ing about ten years ago handsome
asylum in Belle PLANE, MINI. APP
plicants for admission are requested, ii
possible to pay moderate sum for
board and lodging. Those totally with
out means Christian charity is called
upon to provide for.
Ihe MISSION WOrK.
Tn 1893 the general synod took up
mission work among the aboriginies OF
America by sending two missionaries
to the Apache Indians of Arizona. Dur
ING the past year, the Rev. Mr. IL.
Haase had been obliged to leave his
post. The committee in charge of
foreign missions was fortunate in Sc
Of
u. f. G.. Harders of Milwaukee, who
entered upon his new work in the fall
of last year. Upon his arrival he was
appointed superintendent Ct the field.
At present four men are engaged
among the Apaches. Besides the super
intendent, his personal assistant, Mr..
f. Recknagel at Globe, Ariz., and the
Rev. Mr. c. Guenther and the Rev.
Mr. P Schoenberg at San Carlos, Ariz.
In order to attain greater uniformity
in their work the missionaries at regu-
lar intervals hold conferences, during
which various phases of the work are
thoroughly discussed. The Rev. Mr..
Harders, who is at present attending
the meeting of the German Evangelical
Lutheran synod of Wisconsin at Mil
waukee, was invited, if possible, to
spenu a day at Mankato. The general
synod, during the past year raised
funds for this mission amounting to
$52slll, the expenses reaching to
S., 2626S
The Fiftieth Anniversary.
The synod having been organized in
1860, looks toward the fftieth ami
versary of this event in 1910 A COM
mittee has been appointed to make
preparations for a proper celebration.
In June, 1909, the DR.. Martin Luther
college at New Ulm will have COM
pleted its twenty fifth year. A COM
mittee was appointed in this case also
to provide a program for the celebra-
tion of this event.
The former treasurer of the synod,
Mr.. A. Gundlach of Elysian, being
Obliged on account of i'll health to
resign, the synod voted him thanks
for conscientious work and valuable
services rendered. The election of
successor was postponed till the follow
ing day.
Election of Trustees.
As trustees of the synod for term
of three years the Rev. MIC. J.
Albrecht of New Ulm, the Rev. MIR.
A. f. Winter of Mankato, MIR. F.
Schoeppe of St. James, Mr.. F. Buelow
of Sleepy Eye and Mr.. F. H. Retzlotf
Of New Ulm were elected.
The mode of election of the synod
being somewhat antiquated and cum
bersome, the Rev. Mr.. Dysterheft of
Sanborn was appointed chairman OF
committee to propose plans for
change.
The Thesis.
The subject treated in the thesis
of Professor Schaller is the teaching
of Scripture concerning its own verbal
inspiration. BY way of introduction the
venerable professor spoke of the vital
Importance of this question alike to
the doctrine of the whole church and
| to the faith of the individual. The
meaning of the word inspiration as
used in every day life about synony-
| nous to enthusiasm is not it's meaning
in theological phraseology. To assume
only such, placing the holy writer's
on an equal footing with other heroes
of literature and the Greek oracle,
does not suffice. By inspiration we
understand that the holy writers were
guided in their writings by the Holy
Ghost Who not only guarded them
against all error, but also taught them
to express the correct idea with the
proper words. This doctrine is re-
senteu by many scholars of the present
day as absolete, because in their
vanity they feel hampered by it in
their scientific Investigations. Such re-
sentiment, however, is in reality moth
ing less than placing themselves out
side the realm of Christianity; for
by denying verbal inspiration nothing
| less is denied than the wisdom and
love of God, or even his existence.