Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-08
.LUTHERANs CELEBRATE
THEIR DIAMOND JUBILEE
Sunday Is Red-Lettcr Day in
Churches Of Missouri
Synod.
OBSERVED by MILLION PEOPLE
JOY and Gratitude Keynote or
hymns, Sermons md Prnycra
Gro"s From Twelve Pastors mud
1000 Members Ia $3.50 Pastors.

Yesterday was "A cd-lctter day in
all the Lutheran Churches through
out tho country affiliated with the
Missouri Synod. on this day the
l.uthcrans observed tho diamond
jubilee OF the founding ofthc MIS-.
souri, synod JOY and gratitude was
the Keynote Of the hymns. sermons
and prayers. Rev. q. a Sauer. ma.
Tor OF Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
spoke In part as follows:
When our fathers scventy-Avo
years ago. gathered In Chicago 10
round a Lutheran synod. they by no
means realized that this event wouiu
AFTER thrce-anarters Of century.
b. celebrated by more than a mil
Hon people. The FIRST condition az
admission into membership was In.
uir"SerV"d acceptance OF the Rihlc
as Gods revealed word and tho only
rule ana guide Of faith and life. The
conditions o. membership were such
humanity speaking, as to prevent any
rapid outward growth, since they
were the very opposite OF what our
go-hs- you please age desires.
over against all error. our synod
beiieves and teaches the Bible 70 be
In thoughts and words. the Insured
'S'' ~ N'''' anu Ah' only rO!e and
standard or faith. We believe tho
written word OF God 10 be the only
source OF Christian knowledge. re-
fusing tosgrant such provocative 10
pope. synod. church. reason or ans
alleged new revelations We FUR
. Their declare that the only propcr In
depreciation Of the Holy Scrlpt,Ircs
ar" the Scriptures themselves. and
that the only correct way OF Rihlc
Interpretation is not rs means Of
some external rule or key. subjcc.
TO human authority. but only by a
diligcnt and faithfuI comparison o,
Scripture with Scripture
DrprayIty OF Mnn.
Our synod teaches the absolu..
depravity Of man since the fai! and
his absolute inability 10 arouse him
self from spiritual death: and tina,
therefore. his conversion Is cxclu.
s!vely the effect of divine grace. I,
! declares that faith alone justine,
and saves and that Therefore. the
decisive question for every man II
all times iH: DOS; thou bellcv. N
Jesus Christ. the Savior? II stresses
however. also The necessity OF good
/ works. but only as the fruits o,
faiih. and By no means as a con.
dillon ~ salvation. We believe TIM,
49, - ~ fbA bH' lnt.lE tHdt car
keep Ii man out Of hcll. the blood q,
/ Christ; we believe that there is hu,
on" thing that can keep man out
/ or heaven, unbciicf.
| Trusting in the Lords promise
| That Gods word will not return void
Z our fathers motto became 'Th,
word OF the Lord endurc,h forever.
In spite OF hRrdshipS, obstacles anc
I opposition, they marched onward. no,
/ deferred by tho fiery darts Of sian.
der and the poisonous arrows Of false
! accusation, through honor and dis
honor. swinging the sword Of tn.
| Spirit and battling for Christ
| Success Was Glorious.
! And glorious was their success.
! for through their ins,rumcn,ality
thousands were freed from IN.
shackies OF sin and rescued from the
/ slavery OF infidelity. The blessed
seed Of tho word grew and PROS.
pered wherever sown. The small
! body OF !SiT, with its twelve pas.
tors and 1000 baptized members. ha.
grown TO he an organization having
! 2.aiO active pastors, $500 congre
| cations and mission stations, anc
over 100000 baptized members.
The thorough organization OF gu,
synod. It's unity OF action. has otter
/ pScu a VI 10 tnOSt
who know that all is left to the free
determination Of the CONGREGATIONS
synod being only an advisory body
whose resolutions arc without force
unless ratified by the congregations
/ Though we have no bishop nor any
one else 10 command and dictate
ye; We act and speak as one man
| But should this unity OF action re-
ally surprise any one when he re-
members that we are united by that
spirit which has it's source in the
| unreserved and unconditional ac-
ccptance OF Gods Word?
Being one In doctrine we are
one in spirit. and being one in
spirit. the synod has no desire to
usurp the rights of the congreEa
ton. neither do the congregations
refuse TO listen to the brotherly adj
vice and suggestions OF synod IL
this manner. the glorious work has
been successfully prosecuted. In
blessed unity Of faith one streng-
thcns the other. and the work goes
on. side by side the members labor
for one purpose, and Zion is built
up"