The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-16
LUTHERANS IN US.
AND CANADA MERGE
Union Joins 5000 Churches,
5000 Clergy and Millions
Of Members.
BIG RATIFICATION HERE
Spirit of Unrest Sweeping
Europe Called to Atten-
ton Of Meeting.

The final union OF the several sections
OF the Lutheran denomination in this
country and Canada became yesterday
an accomplished fact with the incorpora-
ton OF the three bodies-the General
Synod. the General Council and the Cen
eral Synod OF tho South-into the United
Lutheran Church of America Three
thousand clergymen, 5000 churches.
!. 200. 900 confirmed members and l.6oo,-
900 baptized members are represented in
the new organization.
Unihcation having been made, minis
tiers. visiting delegates and lay communi-
cants OF the United Lutheran Church to
the number of about 5000 gathered last
night In the auditorium OF the Aston
Hotel TO celebrate and solemnize the
event with grand public ratification
meeting. The gathering was presided
over by the Rev F. II. Knubei. first
president OF the newly Incorporated body.
The opening address was made by tho
Rev. DE- Victor G. A Tressler. He spoke
on the mobilization Of Lutheranism.
Merger Meeting Opens.
The big merger meeting was formally
opened after the delegates of the three
general bodies uniting in the merger
entered the auditorium in procession.
They came into the ballroom headed by
the officers of the United Lutheran
Church OF America as Meyerbeer's lie
Prophetic" march was being rendered as
a prelude by @. II. II. Booth, orgnnist
and choirmaster OF the Church of the
Advent. Prayer was said by the Row.
Frank F. Fry.
Paul Althouse OF the Metropolitan
Opera House sang.
Addresses were made by the Pew.
Victor G. A. Tressler. the Rev. NJ. G..
Scherer and the Rev. Theo. f. SchnalFck.
and greetings by the Rev. Junius Il,
Remensnyder were responded to by tho
Rev. Frederick H. knubel. president of
the United Lutheran Church.
In the morning at the business ses-
sion. held in the Engineering Society
Building. the United Lutheran Church
of America became a legally constituted
organization, with full powe:s to con-
duct its affairs. religious and lay. With
the signing OF the necessary papers OF
incorporation, which had been prepared
in advance, and their approval by a
vote Of the delegates. the union was de-
clared to have been completed. The Rev.
T. +. Schmauck of Lebanon, Pa. as
temporary president, and the Rev. Will
lam Baum of New Yo-k city. as tent
porary secretary, signed the documents
that completed the Incorporation under
the laws OF New York State.
Election of Omcers.
Following the completion OF legal pro-
ceedings the convention adjourned and,
in resuming business at the afternoon
session, proceeded to the election OF
officers Upon the third ballot the Rev.
DR.. Knubel. pastor OF the Church of the
Atonemcnt. 10th street and Edgecombe
avenue. was elected president The Rev.
DR.. Scherer of Charleston, S. c., presi-
dent Of the former United Synod OF the
South, was elected secretary. and f.
Clarence Miller OF Philadelphia was
chosen treasurer.
The convention took n patriotic turn
when Capt. L. /. Swan. NJ. D., L. S. A.
was introduced. He brought a messag q
to the convention direct from Secretary
OF War Baker. Capt. Swan said:
There Is a very serious condition
abroad that is coming over here. There
is a spirit OF unrest about which we are
very much worried. The Bolsheviki
propaganda is spreading like wildhre IN
rotary OF War. realizing that the
strongest thing in ths world is public
opinion and that public opinion is
moulded in communities by you gentle
men, sends me here to beg OF you
10 40 that which, OF course, we know
you are only TOO willing and ready 20
do"
The fourth snd fifth business sos-
s.ons Of the convention are to take place
to-day at the Engineering Society
Building.