The Washington herald., 1911-06-10
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
General synod achievements,

OGnGEaA CyuOu AculcNcmcntBs
Distinctive among the big things done
by the Lutheran Church during the past
two years, as shown by the reports
and talks at the General Synod, held
in the Luther Place Memorial Church
during the past week, is the wonderful
work which has been done by the for
eign missionary board OF that great de-
nomination.
Nearly 1000 natives have been baptized
in India, while 100 young negroes have
been added to the enrolment in the
school maintained in Africa The sum Of
S212, ,260 has been expended by the Luth-
Grams alone during the past biennium for
the maintenance Of the work In these
two countries.
Tho foreign missionary results present.
ed on Thursday were the largest in the
history of the missions Of the church.
1t led ali causes in the money placed
at the disposal of the board for its
work in India and Africa.
The board conducts two missions. The
one in East India has been phenom-
email success. There are now 40,19S bap-
tized members, an increase of 2943 during
the b!ennium. At the close Of last bi-
ennium there were 1921 communicates.
BY the report read last Thursday, there
were 1883. Already $4,173-50 has been
subscribed toward the long-deferred hope
of the missionaries at Rentachintala for
a hospital station at that place. 1t is
hoped that a physician Will be able to
go out this fall.
The African mission has been a slower
growth, but at present there seems to be
marked Improvement in conditions, and
the missionaries are greatly encouraged
in their work. Work for a nursery to
. cost 5000 is well in hand, and IT is hoped
&6,N . nm
at Muhlenberg will be ready for occu-
pancy next April
The board is making strong efforts to
raise the following amounts fer advance
ment in these two fields:
Chirala Church building fund, 5000;
Tenali bungalow and station, $4,000; the
College bungalow in Guntur, $4,000; pro-
posed college for women, $4,000; pro-
posed West Pennsylvania home, S11, 900;
the hospital chapel and passageway, g.
500; the Hugh Hecken ward for children,
$3.50; the Nurses Home and Training
School. 5000; the Orphanage Industrial
Institute. 1880; the Chirala Hospital and
Dispensary, $50; the new home for mis-
sionaries in Muhlenberg, $4,000: proposed
new hospital at Rentachintala, SIS, ,0o0;
new bungalow and station at Tarlypad,
$4,000; the new Grooming bungalow in
Guntur, $4,000. and the nursery. 5000.
These projects total an estimated ex-
penditure OF $9S $50, and $1,000 Of this has
already been raised. with good prospects
of completing the remainder.
The headquarters of the Foreign Mis-
sionary Beard are in Baltimore. The sec
retary IS L. B. Wolf D. D., who was for
twenty-four years an Indian missionary.
The president is DR.. Luther Kuhlman, of
Gettysburg Seminary, Pennsylvania !
DR.. Wolf is the organizing genius Of
the foreign work of the denomination.
His wonderful ability in this line has
been the largest factor in the great sue |
cess in which the Lutherans are taking
such proper pride. He has been spoken
of as the great man in the church to- |
day. The power of the man shows itself
in every glance and every gesture. One
cannot talk with him a couple Of min
utes and longer wonder why the Luth- |
Grams have made such a success of the |
foreign missionary work during the past |
biennium.
It is a significant thing that in this |
most prosperous year the foreign board |
holds its convention in the same city |
where it reorganized forty-two years
ago. |
The forward movement among the men |
of the church has been marked during |
the past year. For the first time in the |
history of the church an individual has |
undertaken the entire support of a mis- |
sionary. Under the influence of the Lay
mems Missionary Movement, Mr.. Will |
lam Decker, of the Montgomery Table !
Company, member of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Montgomery, Pa, the
Rev. H. II. Havice, pastor, assumed the
support of the Rev. Henry r. Spangler
from October l, 1910.
The board feels that the biggest thing
now on hand is the projected hospital
for men, women. and children in South
India. It is hoped to send vigorous
young physician to undertake the work
there.
The Lutheran General Synod, which
opened in biennial session in Washing
ton last Wednesday. represents one Of
four Lutheran bodies that have made
extraordinary advances IN membership.
equipment, and gifts within the last few
years. The oldest of the Lutheran bodies
in America, fits gifts during the two years
Just ended have increased by $400. 900 over
the preceding two years, and amounted
to S, 900. With the Lutheran General
Council and the Lutheran SynodicaI Con-
ference, the synod will issue soon Lu-
theran hymnal which, 1t is claimed, will
be the most complete book of its kind
issued by any religious body. In increas-
ing ways, these three bodies of Lutherans
are cooperating. The president Of the
synod last year was the Rev. DR.. H. K.
Fenner, pastor Of the Second Church,
Louisville, which he organized and has
served for tfirty-four years- Upon the
election Of DR.. Fenner as president in
Richmond. Ind, two years ago there
were ten living synod ex-presidents
Three have died within the biennium,
including the Rev. DR.. J. G. Butler, pas
tor OF the Lutheran Place Memorial
Church. in which the synod Is now sit
ting.
The Rev. DIR. Butler had been a Wash
ington pastor for sixty years. and had
served as chaplain of both the United
States Senate and House OF Representa-
tives. The federal eorSacil of the Lu-
theran Brotherhood. new organization.
held its first sessions last Monday and
Tuesday. To-day the synod goes In q
body to Baltimore TO take part in the
dedication OF a handsome new Lutheran
deaconess and motherhouse. President
Taft spoke at one of the synod sessions.
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