Rock Island Argus., 1915-09-10
RETURN OFFICERS
OF THE COUNCIL
Entire staff Reelected at Opening
Business Meeting of Lutheran
Organization.
sCMIAUK's REPORT PRESENTED
President Thanks God for Protection
OF the Stars aud Stripes in
This Time OF Distress.

Yesterday afternoon saw the busi-
ness session Of the Lutheran general
council in full swing. Election of
oHcers resulted in all the old officers
al the council being again chosen for
the next TWO years. They are:
President - Dr. Theodore E.
schmagE. Lebanon, Pa
English recording secretary-Dr. ".
K. Frick. Milwaukee. Wis.
German recording secretary-Dr. G.
c. FerEemeier. Mount Vernon, n. Y.
Swedish recording secretary-Dr. L.
C. Abrahamson, Rock Island
English corresponding secretary
Or. F a. Kaehler. Buffalo, n Y.
German corresponding secretary
Dr Fl 06erman, Philadelphia, Pa.
Swedish cores sponding secretary
Rev. Alfred Appel, Burlington, Iowa.
Treasurer G. Anderson, Rock
island
The wee presidents are not chosen
by the council. but the u synodicaI
presidents are all vice presidents Of
the council
Application for membership in the
general council was received from the
Evangelical Lutheran synod Of Texas.
The application was referred to a com
rttree composed of the following:
Fa~s oHermar, Abrahamson, Haas,
Kulmaun. Hoffman, Weller, Beuze,
stenaaauser. Riters, Bachmaun: lay
men. HaItberg, Geor. Nearig and Deck.
Report is Comprehensive.
~ha report of President scbmauk
30 rha council was a comprehensive
document Iu it he touched on the
dangers and depression from which
the Lutheran church is suffering as a
raau3- of the great war. He said.
"Wa meet under circumstances
which never before have confronted
raa Lutheran church in its entirety,
OF oar fathers i'm particular The
Christian world is clouded and ablaze
with war. The Lutheran church, and
especially that large part of 1t con-
satutad by our brethern in Germany
and Austria and surrounding national
ites and that other large part so con
tiztous r9 the fields Of blood and scenes
Of unrest. constituted by our brethren
in Sweden. Norway, Denmark and Fin
land. is one Of the greatest sufferers.
Tn MANY regions churches. schools.
sem.raries are closed, voluntary mis-
s.0narv operations at a standstilI, and
whatever our blood amEatiou may be.
or wherever our sympathios may lie,
there is scarce one person Of the mill
Ion or more souls We represent here
at Moline and Rock Island, whose
heart is untouched by the woes unut-
-srahLe that come TO us from distant
lands. God be praised that the stars
ana stripes still wave above us as cur
earthly protector. untouched in honor,
and up to this present moment uu-
spotted with blood.
He then touched ON the four great
religious movements which have
sprung into being since the council
met in Toledo two years ago. The
first Of these is q continuation Of the
world conference ON foreign missions
cooking toward the organized Chris
tiaaization of ali the earth. The sec
oud movement, originating in the fed
Grafton Of churches has undertaken
the effort to soc5alize Christianity and
render it morally effective in the pub
lic lille Of every city and state The
third movement has been the attempt
toward the ecclesiastical unifcatjon Of
the churches in Cbristeudom. The
fourth is the tendency to Iiberalize
Christianity, to get away from creeds
and doctrines, and to make the life"
alone, rather than the truth or the
way the test OF religious value.
Committees Named.
President Schmauk also made refer
euce TO the efforts made to bring all
the Lutheran bodies OF America into
a common federation; the coming
quadr-ceutenniaI celebration Of the
Lutheran reformation; the need Of a
Lutheran year book, and various other
matters pertaining to the institutions
and missions Of the general council,
He appointed three committees to
handle various portions Of the presi-
dents report and to submit recon- /
mendauous. They are:
Committee on general relations
Rsvs- Keiter, Ranseen, 1Iechlin, Pet
Ers, Brenner, Kirsch and Sahlberg;