Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-28
What the General Council Is

Lutheran phiIanthropist who was the
devoted and true friend Of the Swed-
ish Lutheraus in their pioneer strug-
giles in this country. It was he who
c0unseled with the saintad Drs Has
selquis1. Esb3oTn and OLSON and gave
valuable aid in the founding Of the
first churches and institutions inclGd-
ing the educational and charitable in
stituuons of the Swedish church,
This synod viii be represented by a
delegation which includes in addition
to It's very young salarled presi-
dent, the Rev. G. f. Gehr, at least two
Of the veterans of the general council
the Rev Dr. H. w Ron, who was the
very first secretary and who has at
tended the majority of the conventions
since that time. With hjm Will come
the Rev Z. Belfour, D. D, Of Pitts
burgh who although long since past
his S0th year is Still vigorous and &C
tive. He is a Danish Lutheran who
has spent more than sixty years as an
English Lutheran pastor. Since 1858
he has been found almost regularly on
the floor Of the general council
The district synod Of Ohio once was
English only. but now is English-Ger-
man. It's delegation viii include
another veteran Of the general coun-
ell. the Rev. G. ". Nechling, who was
present at the first regular conveu-
ton in Fort WAYNE, Ind, and who has
been present at more conventions
fFsTg any -,+f7ar -rr7a 1,rrsa7e
The largest synod, although far
from the oldest, is the Swedish aug
ustana synod This synod has prof
tied by the early Swedish history and
is today doing an aggressive work in
English 70 conserve the future Of what
today stands out as one OF the most
vigorous and successful Lutheran en-
tarprizes on this western continent
This will be the fourth time that the
council is the guest of Swedish church
es and the 18th time that the sessions
have been held in communities iH
which the Swedish synod is well rep
resented. Being held in the very heart
Of the Augusrans synod and that body
being today the largest synod i'm the
council, having nearly 700 ministers
and about / 200 congregations. it lis but
natural To expect that there will be a
very large Swedish list of delegates,
probably as many as ninety. The Aug
ustana synod was represented al the
first regular convention Of the general
council by Revs. HasseIquist, Hattie
stadt and Carlson The leaders Of the
synod have always been active and in
fuential in the deliberations of the
council and headed by men like DIS.
Johnston and Brandelele, born leaders
their large delegation will be very in
Auential in shaping legislation this
year.
Canada too. viii be we'll represent
ed. for the council Is an international
body. There are four organized sy-
mods in Canada, besides a missionary
conference of the Augustana synod. All
viii he represented The old German
synod Of Canada and its English
daughter cover the central portion OF
Canada Together in perfect harmony
they support a college and theological
seminary at Waterloo, Ont AS an il
Iusrration of the way these people
work together. this school started by
the Germans sent its first graduate, a
Swede, into parish work as an English
Lutheran minister. The synod Of Man
itoba, a missionary synod, the work Of
which has naturally been hampered by
the terrible world war and the synod
Of far off Nova Scotia will all have
delegations on the floor OF the con
venHou.
The Chicago synod, an English body
covering in addition TO Illinois, Ind
lana and Michigan and the synod Of the
northwest. are both purely English
bodies. The latter is Of interest at
this time as 1t sends to Rock Island a
delegation headed by the president OF
the synod who is a son Of the Rock
Island institutions, the Rev. DIR. A F.
Elmquist, who has been SO successful
and popular administrator as 90 be
elected and reelected president Of this
synod. a daughter Of the synod Of the
completes the list, namely
the Pacific synod. This body, original
ly English. in its development has alb
sorbed and undertaken a number OF
German missions SO that today it is
divided into an English and a German
conference.
The delegations indicate the large
ness Of the body which comes TO Rock
Island. The general council stretches
from California to Nova Scotia and
from Florida to Alaska. It's mission
interests. outside of this territory. are
centered in Porto Rico. India, Burmah
and Japan and through the Augustana
synod a prosperous mission is also
maintained I'm China.
The historic character and the con
sentative principles of SUCH a body
added TO the extent Of its field and the
greatness Of its operations make it a
convention Of the first mag
nitude. Rock Island, in welcoming
this great Lutheran body has the priv
iiege of seeing and learning the Luth-
eran church az her very best.