Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-02-07
Of"Special Interest to
Observation-Disclosures LutheranS
by REV. G. STORAASLI


work being common the spirit of
mutual interests will find all the
people" pulling together and in the
same direction.
Omitted we stand, divided we fall"
is as true of the church as of the
state. A crying need of the Nor
wegian Lutheran church within the
three separate churches has been for
years the need of Parochial or par
ish schools. 1t is upon the shoulders
of the young of today that the
church burdens of tomorrow must
rest. But the young of today will
meet with the duties of the church
of tomorrow greatly unprepared.,
greatly handicapped unless church
schools can be provided to inculcate
into their hearts the fundamentals
of Christianity.
One of the aims of the New Unit
ed Church, therefore, will be the es
tablishment of parochial schools so
that the children can receive instruc-
ton at the hands of those who them
selves are Christians, and be instruct
ed in the fundamentals and princi
Piles of the Christian religion as we'll
as in the branches of study now
being taught in our public or graded
! schools.
And it is to be hoped that the
new church will not rest satisfied
on the subject of parochial schools
until every parish the country over,
large enough to warrant it, shall
be able to boast Of parish school
under the supervision and leadership
of able and Christian teachers. 1t
should, therefore, be the ardent pray
er of every Norwegian Christian
parent that the dawn of that day
may not be far distant.
To many the fulfllment of such a
program may appear "Utopian
dream, but it will be such only as
long as the people will rest satisfied
with dream.
There may be at first lack of
efficient teachers and lack of
monetary means. But with the de-
mand will come both teachers and
means. 1t will all depend upon the
parents. Means, surely, are not
wanting. The financial condition of
the Observation-Disclosures has never
been better than it is today. The
poverty of pioneer days is history
as has been clearly shown by the
peoples readiness and ability to sub
scribe to the Luther Memorial Funds
now being raised. The grand total
of the three memorial funds within
the three churches today has past
the million dollar mark and is still
climbing. While the combined valua,
ton of church property exceeds
$5,O0O,000.
In total membership Of baptized
members, the New United Church
will rank third in size Of all the
Lutheran church bodies in this land
Being onlv SUPERSEDED in number by
. the Synodical Conference with it's l.,
299.155 members, and the Genera
Council with it's S67,118 members.
Of course, the, work of uniting
these three church bodies does no
end with the great meeting in st
Paul in June. It. may require sew
eral years before all local hindrances
local feelings, sefsh motives and thu
like viii! be overcome. But her.
again the burden Of the good caus
will rest upon the lay people a
such.
According to the principles of tn
Lutheran church the local congrega
ton is free to do as it pleases s.
long as it acts in accordance witt
the Word Of God and Confession
and Practice of the Lutheran church
It will, therefore, rest solely wit
the local congregations. after tn
meeting in June, to decide how 500
they shall consolidate with the othe
congregation or congregations in tn
same locality.
Being a governing institution
the local congregation is not subiec
to the pleasure of it's pastor in thi
respect The pastor is not lor
over his flock but he is it's servan'
He can advise but he has no RICH
: to assume the role Of dictator.
the members of a congregation
therefore, desire to unite with ar
). other congregation, according to tn
"Articles and Conditions of Union
= accepted by the negotiating churche
e the pastor of either Of the congre
t cations has no right from persona
q or selfish motives to try to hinde
Y the union of the same.
Here the questions naturally arise
: what arrangements will be made
e such localities where there are MOI
than one Norwegian Lutheran cor
e gregation? Which congregation sha
e dispose of it's church property
V Which pastor tor pastors shall re
Il main? Which Of the pastors sha
e leave? Who shall decide these que
ticns?
; The final solution of these diff