Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-06-14

I The FIRST Swedish immigrants came
10 Rock Island III 1855. Augusta1a
college and Theological seminary was
moved here i'm 1875 Here the Angus
taua Book concern was organized in
1883 Rock Island has been and is
the center from which cur work as
church Eadiate5. and therefore il holds
a great interest for cur synod
We cast q glance over the past year
today. II IS q serious time 10 which
we are living Great world events are
in the making The great world war
costumes With increased violence Sin
is the cause of war EcveLcusness and
material gain, yea, all kinds of susfs
are at fhe bottom Of the war. God has
long called men To repentance bat
they have NOT listened. God now calls
for repentance by means CE war. The
time OF oar visitation has come AS
set. however. we do not see signs of
repentance before God. God is fudg-
ing upon the circle Of the earth with
righteousness If is with sadness of
heart that vs think that the United
states is now actually and formally
ia the great war; but we must lay
down all opposition To theaprogrSn of
the government and yield ourselves to
the ineTita bic. and give the admins
tratlou what help we can.
Christianity is the only hope Of The
world. Worldly culture and civIIiza-
ton have shown their ineapagitv TO
give the world . new bIrta. May the
Christian church prepare itself for the
reconstruction period. to follow the
war These times are perhaps me
Lords times. Perhaps all these things
are signs that new humanity is COM
N Hlr
time among the peoples ot the earth
But our only hope Is ia Jesus Christ.
May a strong wave of PRAYER rise up
80 Almighty God, Everything admou-
lshes as 30 seIf-ezamiuatio TO more
seriousness. 10 greater faithlHlness to
stronger prayer to warmer zeal. to
more regular use OF the means Of grace
and to persevering service.
This IS the jubilee year OF our
church ne celebrate the 4Goth ami
Eersary of the Lutheran Reformation.
which has given rich treasures and
privileges to the whole world. bur
special heritage to the Lutheran
church. which she must preserve for
future generations. This heritage
the blessed gospel Of the triuna Cod
the saCraments committed To the
church the way o. prayer to the
8
and not through popes and saints jus
tincation before God through fafth in
Christ. and liberty of conscience and
religion. IL IS our duty to contend for
these blessings as faithfully as our
toretathers have done since the time
Of the Reformation
The work in our congregations has
proceeded a. usual The chief SER
vices have as q ruie been well attend
Cd. The saCraueHts are held id high
esteem by The vast majority of cur
church people There have indeed
been no great T1vivals among uz. but
many have nevertheless come to faith
IN Christ: and III many communities
signs are noted Of greater efforts to
abide il tbs. grace OF God PRAYER
meetings are being attended in many
places
For the religious instruction OF
the }ounE, sunday schools are held
throughout the synod. Above ali. zge
Qeed teachers Of the right Christian
spirit IN these schools. teachers uHo
instruct the children con sclantiouziv .
All the children baptized bE the pastor .
belong TO the cradle ralI department. +
or the sunday school and must be in-
Structed Oh the ground 0f their hap
tisn
Ihere is much that points 10 de-
cay IN the home ia our day. This
shows Itself ia the neglect or child
raining Children 4ay dc as they
please. Our parogbial schools have .
been great blessing in the past. and
parents should not neglect 10 send
JneIr children 10 tae same. Greater eff
toFts should be made 10 awaken inter-
est il these schools.
We hear q sad complaint. parents
NEGLECT 10 hiring their chilaren 10 the
services IN God home. This COMPLAINT
Is general re rejoice thar efforts are
being made with success hare and
there TO remedy this evil
Many EOoa reunrta haze ccr.e IN Of