Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-20
Church DECLARED
STEADY|NG FORCE
DR.. KnubeI Addresses Luth-
eran Convention, Which
Opens Sessions Here.


times men may truly paint, Lu:herans
picture of the state of the church. ac-
cording to Rev. DIR. F. H. Knubel of
New York, president of the United
Lutheran Church, in his report sub
mitted at the second biennial conVen-
ton of that organization at Luther
Place Memorial Church this morning.
las long as the operations of the
church reveal the true christ. he
said. confess her faith and develop
congregational life. the church VIII
continue to be saving, steadying
force in our national life.
Nine-Day Convention.
The convention. which is to last
| nine days, opened last night with a
large attendance of Lutheran pastors.
| The organization is the result of a
merger two years ago of three general
bodies-the General Council. General
Synod and the United Synod of the
South. Morninglafternoon and night
sessions are scheduled.
In urging increased activity in
worldwide evangelism, the president
emphasized the duty of the church in
Christian education. in view of the
astounding percentage of illiteracy as
revealed by the world war, and the
absolute ignorance of the simplest
Christian facts and truths among the
men and youths in service. DR.. knu-
bel recommended that the Lutheran
Church should make adequate pro-
vision for a worthy celebration of the
four hundredth anniversary of Luther
at the Diet of Worms April II and IL.
1921 He also presented a paper in
which DR.. Henry E. Jacobs. dean of
the Lutheran Seminary at Mount Airy,
Philadelphia, urged the Lutheran peo-
pie throughout the land to participate
in the eminently proper celebration OF
ha
Executive Board Report.
Action on the report of the execu-
tive board, submitted this morning
will be taken at this afternoons ses-
sion. The report deals mainly with
missions and church extension, educa-
tional work and evangelistic work
The board asks the convention to
take action on the holding of Luz
theran world conference in the near
future. at which representatives OF
more than 81. 900. 900 Lutherans would
| gather The board seeks continued
and increasing cooperation with 9TH
er Lutheran bodies through the ma
tional Lutheran council, which is a
federation of ten Lutheran bodies In
America Cooperation with other
Protestant churches is also up for dis
cussion, in view of the fact that the
Federal Council of Churches. Inter
church World Movement, etc. have
constantly asked this of the Lutheran
Church.
Even if the church does not find it
fea ible to go into union or co-opera-
ton with other bodies. the board
urges pastors and members of con-
gregations to take a full and active
part in community matters This is
considered an advanced and signifi-
cant recommendation. 1t will I'M
doubtedly be adopted and will result
in these T.
ferent spheres.
although there are organizations
and movements into which we can
not enter as a church.. the report
states, I'VE must. nevertheless. heart
lily commend to the pastors and mem
bers of our congregations as impor-
tant spheres of activity for Christian
movements and organizations for So
cial and political reform the enforce
ment of law and order. the settle
improvement of material environ
ments Of life"
Omcers Reelected.
All officers of the organization were
unanimously reelected at noon to-
day. These are: Rev. DIR. F. H.
Knubel, New York. president; Rev.
Dr. NJ G. G. Scherer. New York. sec
deIphia, treasurer.
Speakers to discuss European con-
ditions at tonight's session at 8
o'clock are to be Rev. DR.. Lauritz
Larsen, Rev. DR.. L. B. Wolf and Rev.
DR.. E. F. Bachman.
Contact with LutheranS in other
lands must not be hindered by events
of the past few years." President
Knubel declared in his opening SER
mon last night.
There are Lutherans in many
lands" he said, our united church
must seek contact with all of them.
We must not be hindered though ma
tions are continuing strife and TO-
menting new strifes. Christ alone
can heal the hurts which have broken
millions of hearts and which have
broken hearts in one land from those
in another"
The full power of the brotherhood
was pledged to the enforcement of
the prohibition law in a resolution
unanimously adopted. which also ex-
pressed satisfaction with what al
ready has been accomplished. Other
resolutions adopted included those
urging larger salaries for ministers
and indorsing the work of the Near
East Relief commission. praising the
services of John l.. Zimmerman of
Ohio. who declined reelection as
president.