The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-06-02

PROPOSING
A UNION
Make Rapid Strides in
Joining All Three
Branches
OTHER BODIES
WILL FOLLOW
Observance of Quadri-
Centennial of Ref
OrmatiOn Planned
81 TIE RELIGIOUS RAM5LER.

with a speed that breaks an rec
ord Of church union In American
history three Leading bodies o.
Lurhersus IN America are eEecting
an organic union t1atis 20 be
/ brought 10 completion within The
nreserf pear u zllcee IS IL md aha
prpseu sns point 10 Che complete
I consummaton of the rapidly develop
ing plans-th.s an3acauon of Luther
snism viii be the outstanding event
Of This quadricentennial celebration
OF The reformation
Six months ago there was no par.
| icular discussion. 10 any quarter.
o. The possibility o. bringing togeth'
n he general council. the general
synod. ard The united synod south
~ the Lutheran church The gem
eral council has about half mil
/ lion members. the general synod
about 550,0 C0 members and the
united synod south $4,000 members
These are the progressive English
! epesking bodies Of American Luther.
auIsm All are represented on The
joint committee which Is promot-
ing TIE quadri-centennir celebration
from headquarters IN Philadelphia.
with The Rev r r Gold as their
secretary
Six months ago few persons could
| have been found who would have
said that Lutheran unihcation could
! proceed any more rapidly than the
negotiations that have dragged their
wav thru other denominations. usu-
ally 20 end In failure Now II
is apparent that before the year
| BE- over these three bodies VT
be one in name. in organization
/ end in operation. The monumental
/ character 81 this achievement is best
| understood ty those who know most
I about ecclesiastical affairs
Th.ns would seem 20 be IRE lasr
az an times for the Lutheran church
! IN America 20 Dc anything aEgres-
sive or distinctive All Us roots
strike back into Lnthers Germany
I rs people are OF German blood
Practically every member Of the
| Lutheran church has sentimental
ties that bind him with the German
I people No other group 10 America
| has 50 great reason for feeling the
strain of the yar as these who are
united 5y tender ties with the de
clared enemies OF America Moth
( ing would be more natural than for
I The Lutheran church as church
to fslter and halt Ia IT'S activities
and 70 come under suspicion % 9th.
I or churchmen and the public gener.
allv
Instead. the contrary has been he
case This IS being made one o'
fhe BIG wears cf Lurheransm The
4 churches have uniediy determined
! 10 20 ahead With The commemora
/ fion of the f0Lr hunlredth annlver
sary Of the mailing ~ he 20 theses
roy Martin TMfher 90 rbe church door
/ of Wnnbere 40 eccleslssricaI
event Ia modern American religious
/ life has been more vigorously and
( effectively handled rhan the Reform
/ alton celebration. which tho Luther
ans have 0icn6ored Their activities
( have ranged an he way from spe
I cial musical productions. and pa
/ geante ano meetings and lectures
I and study courses. and special pc
pers down no system Of unite,
. advertunr Ia the daily papers
Of The countrv Amora thoroiy mod
| cru and upfo-dafe enterprise q
would 30 bard 20 end The activ
.ur of th Joint committee have
been Of SORT THAT would have
warmed The cookies az Martin Luth
iris hear
The iolrt committee Tor ih
Reformation Quadricentennlai ha
also ISSUED IN behalf 0, thcchurches
"a ringing declaration Of LOYALTY q
the president ~ fhe United States
They also summoned all their cor
rreea+fous 20 war relief and Re
Cross activities They have n spr
cla1 committee on appointment q
/ cheplalns. so that there may b.
fuU representation ~ tnhera
chaplnin5 IN the army and tha
those men mas b. fhoroly Quahhe
, and bear Tho authorization OBJ th
denomination
The lutheran churches sre couf
tcIed 10 provide special services 8
J recognition % soldiers vho ieay
j. their congregation Each should b
presented with o pocket new Test
mont. and with a better Of con
2 mendauon from Che home pastor
2 the chaplain Provision should
. made for an abundant supply
o. reading matter 90 the individu
b soldier. while churches and pastor
D. in The vicinity of army gamf al
y expected to. do special work for %
e enlisted men incidentally, a vigo
d Gus campaign is 70 be made 20 reac
i tho "unchurched Lutheran ~
]. have moved TO cities. but have ~
united with the adjacent church.