The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-05-10
PublicOpinion

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communications or TO personal at
tacks.
The superior Conference OF the
Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod
held its annual meeting in the Swedish
Lutheran church at Iron Mountain last
week This organization Is only three
years old. IL was formerly part OF
the Illinois Conference. 1t IL composed
Of 20 congregations, 10, PA members
aud 90 pastors The church property
IS worth $3.50. GSs. 90. In order TO sup
port orr schools hospitals. missionar-
les and pastorates the sum of 800. 393 p
were raised last ar. The undersign'
cd was appointed as reporter for the
Daily Tribune Gazette during the coh-
vention and IL might he OF interest 10
some readers OF the Diamond Drill to
know something about our work.
The Evangelical. Lutheran Augustana
Synod in America is composed mostly
of Swedish speaking people. During
the latter years some 20 congregations
of English speaking people have been
organized but belong to the same body.
The Synod is composed of II confer.
ences with 632 active ministers serving
/, l57 congregations. These are scat
tered in nearly every state OF the Union
and Canada.
We have also several III Missionaries IN
China. India. and Porto Rico Last
year S3i, 9O6. 80 was raised for foreign
Missions. The church property of the
Synod is valued at 80. 7l9. 4SS. The
minister's salary for last year amount.
ed 70 1915, 604 06. For the purpose of
carrying on our church work at home
and abroad last year. 81, sos, 403. 90 was
raised by the 25S, O02 members Of which
our synod is composed.
The synod owns and controls 10
schools incluuing academies. Colleges
and one Theological Seminary located
ut Rock Island. ILL.,, and also Large
Book Concern located ut Rock Island
also, besides several smaller branches in
Chicago, New York and Minneapolis.
Two immigrant homes; one in New
York and one in Boston. the latter is
also tor seamen. Two Doaconiss insti
| tutes, one In Omaha and one in st.
Paul. Mimi six hospitals. one Rescue
Home in Chicago, eight homes for the
aged. ton orphan homes This and. be-
sides, several.other branches not men
tIoned here is under the control OF the
synod II Is now 53 years ago since
this organization was started at An.
dover, Illinois and undoubtedly
much good has been accomplished dur.
ing these years tor which God alone Is
worthy OF praise and honor.
Some topics discussed at the confer
ence.
The School Question.
Last year committee was appointed
to lay ont some plans for starting n
school for our denomination on this
upper peninsula. in order to instruct
our children in true Christianity, and
especially since the public school sys-
tenn is growing from bad to worse.
Christian parents who are anxious to
bring mp their children In the fear OF
God hesitate to send their loved ones
to such schools where Jesus Christ is
hated and all religious training abol
ished. The knowledge the pupils re-.
oeive is all for this world only. The
arts of the devil is taught such az /:
theater dancing. etc, which the White
slave Trade commission has said are
the greatest factors in populatipg the
homes Of lntany and shame The
lutheran churches in Iowa have petit
toned the Legislature TO forbid train.
ing tor the theater and dancing in pub.
lie schools. The German Lutherans in
Pennsylvania have petitioned the leg
islature 10 permit them one hour every