Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-11

Plans have been completed for the
celebration Of the iOOlh Lutheran Re
formation anniversary at Zion Luih-
eran Church Sixth and Jackson streets
The celebration which opens in Zion
Church next Sunday, will continue for !
Ia month.
The Rev. Dr. II. a. Weller, president |
Of the largest single Lutheran body i'm
the country. the Pennsylvania synod
and one of the most prominent mem
bers of the church VIII preach the first
sermon. on October % Rev. Oscar Hey
denrelch viii preach the morning SER
mon. lie comes from Hartford Conn.
on October 81, an illustrated lecture
on 'Luther's Life and the Reforma-
tion" will be given. Rev. Hermann Slip
plch Of South Manchester. Conn, VIII
+ deliver a brief address. on November
a. the chief services will he held morn
ing and evening followed by COM
munion on November z, the cantqta,
"The City OF Cod will be sung by the
choir and on November A., The Sunday
schools will come into their own with
special services morning and evening.
The other churches are preparing pro-
grams of a similar scale. A great SER
vice on the evening OF the 2Sth, i'm the
Metropolitan opera House, Philadel-
phia. will unite all Lutheran cOngre-
cations I'm and about Philadelphia. The
convention Of the General Council takes
place then and will be attended by
hundreds OF delegates from all parts
of America. Another event is the singing
Of the cantata, THE City of God, In
the Academy of Music, Philadelphia,
on October %, accompanied by the
Philadelphia orchestra.
One of the most interesting phases OF
the celebration is the fact that the
Presbyterans, the Reformed, the Men
nonltes and many other bodies will
have celebrations OF their own. The
religious Journals of these denomina.
tlons have paid a great deal Of atten
ton TO the Reformation and In New
York city a committee, composed O
over 400 men has served TO draw TO-
gether men OF every religious belief II
one mutual undertaking. Among tn,
things, which have been done 90 dat
are the publication OF numerous arti
cles, the coming of a Luther medal
the composition of several cantatas, tn
setting aside Of a day of sacrifice ant
other institutions.
The history Of the Lutheran Churcl
I'm America has been one that wa
marked by constant growth and de
velopment. Though coming from abroal
10 has become American TO the core
L In fact, there Is no other denomination
which boasts Of a greater number o
different nationalities in the church.
Old Swedes Settlement.
Some of the great arrivals In thi
country were the settlement of tn
Swedcs, who built Old Swcdes Church
In This city. the settlement OF the Dutcl
In New York, the settlement of th
Palatinates i'm Pennsylvania, where tn
\ lrappe Church Is the oldest churcl
81 building, the settlement Of thc Salz
M Nurgers In Georgia and others In Nir
III slma The settlement Of tho Saxons II
al Tho West.
M IN America they found their freed,tl
# ana III Is here that they have cniove,
Ia greatest prosperity. Some Of the rrea
~ men OF ihe church were Wauhor Much
lehDe,g hrotel, Seiss, Schumacher. Friis
'M chei Neldner, Schaefcr, Kraulh. etc
The greatest trouble of mo chino
has been the socallod lanpnagc r,',,
ap ton, but 10 Is now In a fair way M n,
not ing solved The church has buut ma,
all nifcent seminarios, one OF which
tch. 81. Louis. Is the largest denomln
viii tional school I'm America
you In point Of membership the chur
irst in America ranks third among the pl
ing lesisnis and first In the world. havl
about 7OO0OOO adherents. Every ST.
ely in the union is represented. z
No churches are controlled by synods,
and presidents Of which rank with
rith bishops In other churches. The- d.
10 trlnal position is conservative. one
nan the strongest bodies in the church
az the Auguslana synod composed
and Swedes. The work in the Sunday sch
nm may well be considered the chief VI
ess OF the church. A large number Of
cellent religious papers. daily
MS weekly, are also published. Connrr
let ton is the means OF becoming a me
IS Der Of the church.
las How Delaware Figures.
sss Among the states, Delaware sta
an lowest in membership. old Swe
n church was lost TO the denominet
many years ago. There are three c