Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-01-10
LUTHERANS CELEBRATE
40Oth ANNIVERSARY
Making Preparations for the Big
Event. Their Number is Nearly
100000.
CHURCH HAS SHOWN
REMARKABLE GROWTH
There Are 90 tLutheran SynOds
1881 Ministers, 15,O77 COngre-
cations ard 2,445,276
COMMITMENTS.

y The celebration of the 400th an
niversary of Professionalism during
this year of 1917 is developing such
ia common 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
Lutherans Year Book now repre-
|sents The General Synod, The Gen.
|eral Council, The Joint Synod Of
Ohio and the West, The United Syn
cd of the South embracing the larg-
ler Percentage Of all English speak
ing Lutherans and many in other
languages. From this Year Book
I'VE learn that Lutherans of the Unit
ed States number 2,445,276 confirm
led and 3,774,774 baptized members
The Lutheran population is estimat-
ed to be approximately 100000.
They are the third largest Protes-
tant denomination in the country.
Their property increased in value
during 1916 from $9S,o0O.OOO to
$102,320,045.. The income of these
churches showed a gain of $1,267,-
I953, and totalled $14,S00,7S7. For
benevolence the income was $3,7S2,
Isl, a gain of $230.000. Lutherans
have the largest circulation in their
stheological seminaries of any Pro-
testant denomination in prepara-
tion to membership. They report 20
theological institutions with a prop
erty valuation of $4,02S,357 They
have II colleges with property worth
$11, 1,03S,202 and 90 acadamies and
girls colleges with property worth
$4,36S,120. The Lutherans main
tain 64 orphan homes, "A homes for
for deaconesses and rs miscellane-
Gus charitable institutions. The in
vestment of these institutions, whicn
are called In1ermission institutions
| by the Lutherans, totals $14,07S,-
22S. They cared for 327,537 per-
sons during the year.
The church has shown a remark
able growth from year to yt-r. This
is especially evident when the period
of years is contrasted, thus thirty
years ago, there were 5S Lutheran
synods, 3,90S ministers, 6,7S3 con-
lgregations, 906,09o communicates.
Today they report 65 district synods,
1881 ministers. 15,O77 congrega-
tions, 2,445,276 adults confirmed
members. This shows thirty year
gain of synods. 1928 ministers,
1924 congregations, 1,539,17S COM
municants. In the number of minis
ters, the gain has been almost 100
per cent. In the number of congre-
cations, gain of over 100 per cent,
and in communicates, the gain has
been nearly $50 par cent. In the
valuation of church property and
particularly in the contributions for
missions and benevolence, equally
strong gains have been made.
The year 1917 upon which the
Lutheran church now enters will be
notable in the great celebrations
which are to be held throughout the
country reaching the climax in ma
tional celebrations in Chicago in
June, in Philadelphia and New York
in October, and at other centers al
times to be indicated. National head
quarters have been established in
Philadelphia and plans for a country.
wide celebration are being develop
ed.
The various Lutheran bodies are
raising large sums of money for min
isterial relief or pensions, education
home, foreign and inner-mission
work. These sums make total OF
$4,000, 900.