Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-10
r.,ors Federation of All in Amer.
ica hut Not Under Union rs
Proposed at Present
DISCUSSION is VERY LIKELY
fasteners Address Meeting in
Minneapolis but Majority
Opposed Is Large.

{ merger under the plan as pro-
oosed by others at this session.
The special order y the day
saturday at the annual convention
- the Augustana synod in Min
reapolis was the ratification of the
nroposed merger of the general
rouncil with the general synod and
The united synod south to form the
T-nited Lutheran church This
nroposition had already received a
favorable vote of s of the IA syn
nis in the council but required
the assent Of three additional syn
DDS 10 carry.
The invitation 10 join this large
body has stirred up a lively dis
cussion in the various conference
meetings in the synod and a de-
rided difference Of opinion among
leaders has been evident.
The Augustana synod with its
T4O pastors, 1925 congregations
and 10000 members will be
large factor in the new organiza-
ton. constituting practically one
fourth of the total membership of
the proposed union.
The action of the synod on the
proposition was looked upon as
largely determining the ultimate
customs and therefore watched with
interest by the whole Lutheran
church in America. Representa-
tives OF the Pennsylvania minister
Jun, the Oldest Lutheran synod in
the country. had come TO Minneap-
oils TO explain the meaning and
purpose of the proposed merger
and to plead for favorable action on
the part of the Augustana synod
These representatives were: DR.. H.
{. Jacobs, dean of the Lutheran
seminary, Philadelphia; DR.. H. A.
Weller, president of the Pennsyl-
vania ministeTium; DR.. W. c. D.
Keiter. a prominent clergyman of
Allentown. Pa: and E. Clarence
Miller OF Philadelphia, a leading
layman in the ministerium. They
we're given the floor of the synod
10 explain the proposed mergr and
10 give their reasO for a favor
able action by the synod This they
did in an eloquent manner and were
listened 10 with rapt attention by
the delegates present who filled the
spacious church to the doors. The
tension was extreme as everyone
present felt that the synod S decis
ion on this question would have
important bearing on the future de-
velOpment Of the Lutheran church
in this country. At the conclusion
Of the addresses by the eastern
representatives the discussion be-
came general by the delegates and
i was soon evident that a large
majority was opposed 10 Augustana
becoming part of the proposed
merger. Those in favor Of the prop
0sition looked upon this as a de-
cided step in the direction Of the
union Of all Lutheran synods in
this country. Those opposed to the
proposition were all in favor of a
union of all the synods but looked
upon the proposed merger, which
would comprise only One-third of
the Lutherans in the United States,
as step that would present for a
long time a union Of all Lutheran
sTnods along natural lines of de-
velopment. They regarded as i'm
proper at this time that the Angus
tana synod, a national body, should
Join any organization where it
would be Coordinated with district
synods exclusively which were
limited territOrially so as not to in
terfere with each other.
All Day Discussion.
After an all day discussion it
was evident that the synod looked
with favor upon a federation Of all
Lutheran synOds and to join such
federation but was not ready TO
go into the proposed United Luth-
eran church which it was intended
TO make a close-knit and compact
organization The synod accord
ingly decided by tremendous ma
jority at the close of the session
that it would not join in the Organi-
cation of the merger but would be
willing TO enter a federation of all
the Lutheran bodies in the country.
After the business session the
miuisterium, which is com posed OF
the clerical delegates TO the synod,
net with the 80 candidates who
Sunday afternoon were cOnsecrat-
ed for the Lutheran ministry.
Pulpit Assignments.
The ordination service took
place in Emanuel Lutheran
church at 3:15 Sunday afternoon.
Dr. NJ. G. Randeen Of Chicago
preached the Swedish ordination
sermon. while DR.. G. A. Dorf of
MCPHERSON, Kans., preached in
English. The candidates for or
olnation and the charges to which
'hey go follow:
Arnet. Pa.-Leonard Alexander
Des Moines, Ia.-Paul H. An
dreen.
Ansonia, Conn.-Victor E. Beck.
Fleming and Percival, Can
Carl A. Bengston.
Jersey Shore, Pa.-Adolph T.
Rice Lake. Wis-Anton E. Bonn
gren.
Grand View. Ia.-Carl C. Bos-
from
klnistinO. can.-otto H. Bos-
from.
Erickson.
butte. Frank II. Hanson.
Manson, Ia.-Frank W. Hanson
Boise, IdahO-Gustavus A. Her
bert
MSinot, y. D.-Arthur o. HELM.
Aunising. Mich Ernest II
Jackson.
valley Springs, S. D-Albert ].
Laurell.
Johnson.