The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-07
LUTHERAN SYNOD TO
MEET In ILMINGTON
Membership Of Church in United States About
1000, 600 Denomination in United States
Holds It's M issoparv Spirit

same progress continues to-day, and II
is probable that the 2,0O0,v0O mark in
membership in this country will be
reached within Il very short time IL it
has not been reached already. t-55
IT Is true that the centre OF Lutheran
strength is to be found In the coun-
tries already named, but II Is by no
means confined to those countries. Tho
influence of tfis church has spread into
Austria, Hungary Holland, Rouma II la,
Servia, Turkey. Italy. France, England.
Scotland, India. China. Africa. Nadia :
Sascar. Australia and In different parts
of South America The growth in
memberships has been such in all coun-
tries where this church is FOUND that
an eminent German statistician esti-
mates Its total strength at 56,00O,0O0.
missionary in Spirit.
The Lutheran Church. by It's very
constitution. has been missionary in
spirit from It's beginning. Luther him
SER was missionary In spirit. and lie
never lost an opportunity to remind
believers of the needs Of the hcathrn
ana OF the duty OF carrying to them
.ne gospel. Very early In It's history
This church was confronted also with
inc vast importance of activity in home
missions The first work OF the church
In the interest of foreign missions on
a Fargo scale was not begun until Den
mark became maritime country. al Z
though Sweden. had started work
among the Laps in 1859. protestant
mission work In India was inauguratcd
ny the Lutheran Church in Denmark. ! 4
was Iicgenbalg who translated thu
New Testament into the Tamil Ian
guage. and II was Christian Frederick
schwartz. who is known as the
pa triarch of Lutheran Missions who
went out In 1850, and who extended
the work which he began in India until
1t reached into Ceylon. Tanjorel and
Trichinopoly. 1t was the Lutheran
Church that was the pioneer of Eastern
missions. it's work having antedated
by 200 Jears that work Of the English
churches. Another fact worthy or
mention in this connection Is that the
Carstein Bible institute, of Halle. be-
gan tho circulation of the Scriptures
fully a century before the British and
Foreign Bible Society was organized
The Lutheran Church In the United
States never has lost Its missionary
spirit. 1t has had TO face the respon-
sibility and discharge the duty TO home
missions In an unusual degree owing
TO the multitudes OF people from
Lutheran countries who come into the
United states every year. but while
this is true. the church has kept also
the world vision ever before il and
cirn lands on account OF the vast
amount Of mission work 1t has had TO
do at home
elmer Mission" Feature.
One Of. the most Interesting and one
of,the most helpful features Of mission
work In the Lutheran Church IS that
which Is known as the+.Inncr Mission"
This mission has a distinctive sphere
which is among the children of the
church who are wandering and needy.
and Its work Is to rescue the fallen
and to place safeguard around those
who are spiritually imperiled. The
method OF distinct philanthropy Is used
In the work of the Inner Mission.
The great truth which burned itself
into the soul of Luther was that OF