Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-08
LUTHERANS AT
ROUTINE WORK
History of "Our Motherhouse"
Outlined Before General
Synod in Session

ministry WITH mercy, was urged
to-day by the Rev. DIR. e. l.. Bach
man. of the Philadelphia Mother
house of Deaconesses. He was the
only speaker at the morning session
OF the seventy-eighth convention of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church OF
Penna. Session are being held at St.
Matthew's Luthran Church, Green
and Seneca streets.
Following reference to the merger
OF the General Synod he told of the
early history of "Our Motherhouse. !"
He said in part:
THE diaconate is here to stay. This
ofhce, the first to be charged with
specific duties of the Church was or
ganized by the Apostles in the early
days of the Church in Jerusalem 10
relieve them of the personal care
for the temporal welfare of desti-
tute members in order to give them
selves entirely to the ministry of the
world. That women were also call
ed to this office in evident from Ro-
mans 1871. For about four centruies
deaconesses served the Church in the
ministry of mercy and then they
were rapidly replaced by Monastic
orders. The male diaconate as
we have it in the Church to-day,
was revived by Pastor Theodore
tliedner, who himself in 1S49
kaiserwerth to Pittsburgh, Pa, in re-
SPONGE to most earnest plea by the
Rev. DR.. w. A. Passavant, who had
Just founded the first Lutheran Hos
pital in this country.
For various reasons the deaconess
work did not prosper, however, un-
I'll the second attempt to transplant
the diaconate to this country was
made, this time in Philadelphia, Pa.
Here hospital, founded by German
Americans, just before the Civil War,
during which it was requisitionef1 by.
the Government for the care of the
sick and wounded. was still in its
infancy when in 1870. Mr.. John D.
Lankenau was elected a member and
then the President of the Board of
irustees. He was a man of high
Ideals, large means, unusual ability,
great energy and determination and
OF genuine sympathy. Not satisfied
with the spirit prevailing in the hos
pltal when he was called to its lend
ership, he endeavored for years to
raise its tone, but in vain. One day.
when quite discouraged, someone
suggested to him to enlist the CO.
operation of the Church which hith-
erto had not been encouraged active
ly to support the work. He prevail
ed upon the corporation to amend
It's charter so that three clergynen
or the Evangelical Lutheran Min
isterium of Pennsylvania must be
members of the Board. and he was
fortunate in persuading three of the
most prominent pastors in their day
TO accept the position, the Rev. DR..
William j. Mann. the Rev, DR.. A.
Spaeth and the Rev. r. Wischan.
who were elected in 1882"
business at the morning session
was mostly of the routine character.
Ihe Rev. G.. A. Greiss OF Allentown.
presiding, The devotional services
We're in charge of the Rev. r. r
Fritsch, of Allentown. whose sub.
lect is CONFORMATION and Trans
formation"
Reports were presented by DR..
Fisher on the Gettysburg Theo-
logical Seminary; and the Rev. DR.
w. 70. Stahler, of Lebanon, reported
on State of the Church. This after
noon was devoted to discussion of
various reports. This evenings pro-
gram includes a number of musical
selections. vocal and Instrumental
Conversational singing. n sermon nv
the Rev. A. M. Stametz. d. D., pastor
OF Augsburg Lutheran Church. on
The Privilege of Preaching" to he
followed by ordination services.
ADD ESTERDAY STORY
Tells of Aftermath
Speaking at brotherhood meet
ing last evening DR.. Charles l.. Fry
Of Philadelphia, field secretary of
the united Lutheran brotherhood of
America, said that a complete re-
generation of American institutions
VIII result from the war
DR.. Fry championed the Ieague Of
Nations as n GLORIOUS Christian
IDEAL" and said that it breaks his
neart to see this ideal dragged in
the mire of politics.
south America has greater possi-
bliltles than ever, especially since
the war caused the southern repub-
lies to turn to this country for many
supplies which We're cut off to them
from Europe. This country will es-
tablish most beneficial trade reIa-
tons with South America.
Speaking of Poland, DR.. Fry told
of the terrible suffering and the aw-
full conditions which have prevailed
and still do prevail. He appealed
to his hearers for aid.
Other outgrowths of the war he
said were woman suffrage, prohibi-
ton, and the breaking down of class
distinction. More than 600 men at
tended the meeting last evening. A
reception followed the address by
DIR. Fry.