The Hope pioneer., 1922-04-20
Lutheran Church Body Formed
rs Years Ago by II
Congregations.
STRUGGLES AND GROWTH
Missouri Synod Maintains Week Day
Parish School System of 1910
Schools With $4,000 Children
and 1889 Teachers.

organized the TVanSellcal 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 1t has become familiarly
known, numbers over million souls,
including $500 pastors with congrega-
tions 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 Hke-minded men.
l.. 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
SAlS was oSku0Ay UCSuA'
An Emigration Society was organ
ized, common treasury established
and five ships for New Orleans were
chartered. There had been some talk
about settling in Australia, but Amer
ica 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
passage, arrived at New Orleans dur
ing December, 1888, and January, 1885,
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 4,44O acres Of land.
Early Struggles
The first experience in their new
home was to be one Of bitter disillu-
sionment, but withal. blessing in dis
guise. In a strange land, confronted
with the hardships 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.
1t was time Of intense struggle, both
for physical maintenance and for
spiritual stability, from which the set
tiers emerged all the more armly
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 1t arose. The German
periodical, "Der Lutheraner," became
the clarion Of conservative and con-
structive Lutheranism, the instrument
which rallied host Of Lutherans
the founding Of the Synod of Missouri.
Ohio, and other states at Chicago, in
1S47.
Growth
"Missouri" has had marvellous
growth in the seventy-five years Of FITS
existence. 1t has grown in spite Of
evil prophesy Of early destruction on
account Of its conservatism. And So.
missouri very naturally rejoices on
the occasion Of its seventy-fifth an
niversary. 1t finds pleasure in its
numerical strength. And yet, "Aiis-
souri," would be misunderstood, IL num-
bers only were considered the cause
of it's JOY. Jealous for the "salva-
4 tion of man." "Missouri" has always
stood for the "glory of God" In this
light only is Missouri" Its work and
growth, properly understo 3D. And this,
the consistent attitude both "for the
glory Of God" 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, &C.
cording to the statistics Of 1920, over
million souls, more than three
thousand congregations, and more than
four thousand pulpits. 1t maintains
the only formidable Protestant, week.
day parish school system, numbering
1910 organized parish schools, at
tended by over $4,000 children, and
taught by over 1,5O0 trained parish
school teachers and 4s9 pastors. The
Synod owns and controls II Colleges
and Seminaries, with 81 professors, 20
assistants, and total enrolment Of
2Ol2 students. There are five pri-
vately owned high schools, with AZ
teachers. and 687 enrolled students.
Home Mission work is carried on at
1854 stations. Synod maintains also
Missions among the Jews, Indians. For
eign Tongug Immigrants, Deaf Mutes,
and, very1 extensively, among the
Negroes Foreign Mission work is con.
Quoted in Brazil. Mexico, Argentina,
China. East India. Alsace and through,
so called Free Churches In Germany
Australia, and New Zealand.