Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1922-05-10
SYNOD RECALLS
PIONEER DAYS
Lutheran Church Body Formed
Is Years Ago by IL
Congregations.
cTPllcGlrEc ANN cRnMfTu
STRUGGLES AND GROWTH

Missouri Synod Maintains Week Day
Parish School System Of 1910
@ Schools With $4,000 Children
10 and 1889 Teachers. E
In the Spring Of 1847, % pastors
and dozen lay delegates met in Chi:
cago, then town Of 10000 Inhabitants,
squatting on the frontier. That group
organized the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod Of Missouri, Ohio and other
states. Today, after IS years Of con-
sistent adherence to the principles of
conservative Lutheranism. missouri
Synod, as it has become Familiarity
known, numbers over million souls,
including $500 pastors with congrega-
tons all over the Union, in Canada,
Brazil, Argentina and England.
The real beginning Of Missouri ante
dated this historic event in Chicago.
The scene is laid in Dresden, the
capital Of Saxonia. where was, located
the parish of Pastor Martin Stephan, a
staunch exponent of confessional Luth-
eranism, and an equally staunch op-
ponent Of the governmental Church
Union of the Lutheran and Reformed
denominations. His fearless stand for
the Lutheranism Of Luther had won
the hearts of many nke-minded men.
1t also brought him into serious con-
flict with the government, resulting In
virtual persecution. In 1886 an en-
igration was decided upon as the only
means of escape. In the Fall Of 1888
this emigration was actually begun.
An Emigration Society was organ
tied, common treasury established
and five ships for New Orleans were
chartered. There had been some talk
about settling in Australia, but Amer
lea was finally chosen. At Bremen
five sailing vessels received the Pilgrim
party, numbering approximately $50
men, women and children. One Of
these ships, the Amalia, was lost at
sea. The other four, after stormy
ing December, 1888, and January, 1889.
Proceeding up the Mississippi these
weary pilgrims landed at st. Louis. A
number Of them remained there, but
the major portion, after but few
months, settled 112 miles south of st.
Louis, in Perry County, where they
had purchased 444O acres of land.
Early Struggles ~---
The first experience in their new
home was to be one Of bitter disillu-
sionment, but withal, a blessing in dis
guise. In strange land, confronted
with the hardshirs and the difficulties
of primeval forest and frontier life,
Stephan, their near idolized leader, was
exposed as dishonest character, and
remaining impenitent in spite Of re-
monstrance and admonition, was de-
posed and banished from the colony.
It was time Of intense struggle, both
for physical maintenance and for
spiritual stability, from which the set
tiers emerged all the more FIRMLY
grounded in faith. =,
Almost spontaneously, Pastor G.
p. w. Walther, one Of the younger
immigrant pastors, rose to lead
ership. His spiritual gifts, as well
as his executive genius, were Of com.
manding order, meeting every emer-
gency as it. arose. The German
periodical, "Der Lutheraner," became
the clarion of conservative and con-
structive Lutheranism, the instrument
which rallied host Of Lutherans
scattered over the states, and lead to
the founding of the Synod Of Missouri,
Ohio, and other states. at Chicago, in
1847.
Growth
missouri has had a marvellous
growth in the seventy-five years Of Its
existence. 1t has grown in spite Of
evil prophesy Of early destruction on
account of it's conservatism And so,
missouri very naturally rejoices on
the occasion Of its seventy-ffth an
niversary 1t finds pleasure In its
numerical strength. And yet, Mis-
souri, would be misund erstood, If num-
bers only were considered the cause
Of its Joy. Jealous for the saliva
ton of man." Missouri" has always
stood for the glory Of God" In this
light only is s'Missouri," its, work and
growth, properly understo I'd. And this,
the consistent attitude both "for the
glory Of Cod and "for the salvation
Of man." missouri counts its chief
cause for JOY.
Present Status
missouri" at present is made up
Of 25 District Synods, representing, ac.-5
cording to the statistics Of 1920, over
million souls, more than three
thousand congregations, and more than
four thousand pulpits. It maintains
the only formidable Protestant, week,
day parish school system, numb ring
1910 organized parish schools, at:
tended by .over 70 900 children, and
taught by over 1,50O trained parish
school teachers and 489 pastors. The
Synod owns and controls IA Colleges
and seminaries, with 81 professors, &c
assistants, and a total enrolment OF
2.O42 students. There are five pr,
yately owned high schools, with AZ