The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-01-11
OBSERVE 4ooTH ANNIVERSARY
Professionalism in Celebrating Anniver-
sary Developing Interest to Draw
Lutheran Church Cooperation.

ES~
The celebration Of the 400th ami
yersary of Professionalism during this
year of 1917 is developing such COM
mon interest as to draw the various
sections Of the Lutheran church into
close cooperation. One of the first
products of this jubilee year has been
the Joint Year Book representing
the consolidation of four year books
into one. Thus, the Lutheran year
book now represents The general syn
on, the general council, the joint syn
Cd Of Ohio and the west, the united
synod of the south embracing the lar
ger percentage of all English speaking
Lutherans and many in other langua-
ges. From this year book we learn
that Lutherans of the United States
number 2,445,276 confirmed and 3,774,-
TIA baptized members The Lutheran
population is estimated to be approx
mately 10,000000. They are the third
largest Protestant denomination in the
country. Their property increased in
values during 1916 from $93,000,O00 to
$102, 320,045. The income of these
churches showed a gain of 81, 267, 1853
and totalled $14,SO0,7S7. For benevo-
glence the income was $3,7s2,751, a gain
Of $230,000 Lutherans. have the
largest circulation in their theological
seminaries of any Protestant denomin-
IN p0+ ~ Il
Tkey report 20 Theological institutions
with a property valuation of $4,028,-
367 They have Al colleges with prop
erty worth 1908, 202 and SO acad-
'emies and girls colleges with property
worth $4,368, 120. The Lutherans main
tain "a orphan homes, "A homes for
aged, 50 hospitals, 8 motherhouses for
deaconesses and rs miscellaneous char
liable institutions. The investment Of
these institutions, which are called
innerreAsion institutions by the Luth-
GRAMS totals $14,078,228. They cared
for 327,537 persons during the year.
The church has shown a remarkable
growth from year to year. This is
especially evid mt when the period of
years IS contrasted, thus thirty years
ago there were So Lutheran synods,
3,9oS ministers, 6,783 congregations,
906,09S commandments Today they
report % district synods, 1881 minis
ters, 1907 congregations, 2,445. 276
adults confirmed members. This shows
thirty year gain of synods, 1923
ministers, 1924 congregations, 1889
l78 communicates. In the number of
ministers, the gain has been almost
1000. In the number of congreea
lions, gain of over 1000, and in com
municants, the gain has been nearly
5000. In the valuation of church
property and particularly in the con
tributions for missions and beneyo-
lences, equally striking gains have
been made.
The yeas 1917 upon which the Luth-
eran church now enters will be notable
IN the great celebrations which are to
be held throughout the country reach
Ing the climax in national celebrations
IN Chicago in june, in Philadelphia
and New York in October, and at other
centers at times to be indicated Ma
tlonal headquarters have been estab-
hshed in Philadelphia and plans for a
countrywide celebration are being de-
veloped.
The various Lutheran bodies are
raising large sums Of money for min
isterial relief or pensions, education.
home, foreign and innermission work.
These sums make total of $40, 100000.