Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-09
GENERAL COUNCIL.
BIENNIAL OPENED
InMOL!NE CHURCH
Initial Service Inspires and Thrills
Big Body Of Lutherans As
semhled.
DIR. ABRAHAMs0N IN WELCOME
Business Sessions Opened This Aft
ernoon With President Sehmauk.
in the Chair.

with a service that thrilled and in
spIred the throng gathered in the
first Lutheran church, Moline. the
general council OF the Lutheran
eaurrR In North America opened its
e5tr biennial convention this morn
ing. The full general council liturgy
Of the communion service was used,
the L. vice presidents OF the council
and tre other officers officiating. The
sermon delivered by DR.. T. E.
schmaus president Of the council.
was d scholarly effort and viii long
finger in the memories of those who
heard the eloquent divine.
The address Of welcome to the con
veruou was delivered by DR. L. G.
Abrahamson Of Rock Island, chairman
Of the local committee on arrange
meat
The public confessional service.
which preceded the addresses and the
communion. was very impressive It's
elimination was reached when the
vast congregation, kneeling. repeated
the confession OF sins, and Rev.
sr1uauk pronounced the absolution.
Then followed the singing of Holy.
Holy. Holy, Lord God Almighty as
Il has never been heard sung before in
the Moline church. Gloria in Excel
sis" was also one of the musical gems
OF the service, which, with J. F. Obi,
Doctor of Music, presiding at the or
gan. and Or. L. D. Reed of Philadelphia
directing the choir, was sung until it
seemed the church could scarcely con
tain the swelling harmony.
Hundreds of visitors went forward
and received the holy sacrament of the
Lord s. supper as 1t was administered
BY Rev5. f. Hoffman, G. F. Gehr, J.
yaarer. A. Appel. G. o. Berkemeier
and william Horn, all officers of the
council.
In his address of welcome DR.. L. G.
Abrahamson referred to the character
of the two cities IN which the council
is gathered He spoke of the fame of
Moline manufactures, especially of
plows and automobiles and Of Rock
Island national renown as the cen
ter of a great railway system and the
site of government arsenal He added;
On Historic Ground,
aOnly twice before in its long his
tory has the general council met so
far west. Both meetings we're held in
Minneapolis. You are now assembled
on historic ground. Here more than
sixty years ago our humble torefa-
Tiers built affairs to worship their
God. The founders Of our church were
wise builders. They knew church
could not long exist without its own
educational institutions, and therefore
they laid the foundations for that com
urehensive educational system which
has its center here.
He then paid tribute to the founders
of the Augustana synod. whose activi-
ties centered in Rock Island and Mo-
lire. He referred particularly TO
Easselqust OLSON, Lindahl, Esbjorn
and Jonas Swensson. showing how
each Of these had been instrumental
in promoting the work of the Lutheran
church among the Swedes Of America.
In concluding his address, DR.. Abra-
hanson extended a special welcome 10
the Women's Home and Foreign Mis-
sionarv society, which is holding its
convention in connection with the gen
eral council gathering. we can
scarcely over-estimate the value Of
the work done by our noble women in
the past" be said, and now that they
are so spleudidly organized, what can
We not expect from them in the fu-
rure?'
Women Serve Luncheon.
Following the morning service the
women OF the Lutheran hospital asso-