The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-05-11
SYNOD CELEBRATES
DIAMOND JUBILEE

In celebration Sunday of the 18th or
Diamond jubilee anniversary of the
organization of the Evangelical Luth-
eran Synod, of Missouri, Rev. p. Hill
gendorf, pastor of the Emmanuel Luth-
eran church of this city cited that the
religious organization had its origin in
the prosecutions of Prussian kings. The
Lutheran church during the war, Mr..
dilgendorf declared, was unjustly char
acterized as being pro-German. In
fact, he declared, the church leaders
and its members. through knowledge
gained through the bitterness of perse-
cution, has ever been hostile to the
House of Hohenzollern and displayed
sincere American loyalty during the
great war.
elm the spring of 1847," said Mr..
Hilgendorf in opening his sermon,
'twenty-three Lutheran pastors and a
dozen lay delegates met in Chicago.
then a town of 20, 900 inhabitants. That
group of men organized the Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio
and other states, now the largest indi-
vidual Lutheran Synod in existence.
1t is generally referred to as the Mis-
souri, Synod.
Mr.. Hilgendorf then cited how in
1877 Frederick William III, of Prussia,
by royal proclamation, ordered the
Lutheran and Reformed churches to
unite under state dominion. Luther
ans, who interpreted literally the
words of Christ in regard to the COM
munion, refused to submit to the edict,
and as result were cruelty prosecuted.
"The real beginning of the Missouri
Synod was in Dresden, where was To-
Gated the congregation of Pastor Mar
tin Stephan, who fearlessly opposed the
union of the Lutheran ana Reformed
churches" said Mr.. Hilgendorf. His
firm stand brought him into serious
trouble with the government and he
was put on the black list. Members of
the Lutheran church were driven into
the state church by soldiers with fixed
bayonets. Property was confiscated
and believers were jailed. After i'm
Vulnerable appeals they were given
privilege of immigrating. Their prop
erty was returned, but they were
forced to sell Immediately at great
sacrifice. An emigration society was
formed. Ny great grandfather gave
$1,000 to this organization for aiding
the poor.
"Actual emigration did not begin
until 1888. Five ships for New Orleans
we're chartered. There had been some
talk of settling in Australia, but Amer
lea was finally chosen. The parties
embarked at Bremen, numbering ap-
proximately $50 men, women and chill
dren. One of the ships, the Amalia,
was lost at sea, none of her crew or
houfnrr hnnV, ctohfnA
again. The other four arrived in New
Orleans in December, 1888, and Janu-
ary, 1889. The weary pilgrims pro-
ceeded up the Mississippi to st. Louis.
They purchased LAO acres of land in
Perry county, Missouri. These folk,
who 10 years later took the lead in or
ganizing the Missouri Synod, did not
come to America as beggars, although
many of them left the homeland at
great financial loss. The party con-
sisted not only Of Saxon weavers and
stocking makers but many merchants,
men of the medical profession, jurists,
artists and officers of civil government |
'The first experience in their new |
home was to be bitter one, but withal |
a blessing in disguise. In a strange |
land, confronted by the difficulties of |
primeval forest and frontier life, Ste |
phan, their near-idolzed leader, was |
exposed as a dishonest character, and |
when he was UNIV illing to repent was
thrown out of the settlement. Those |
we're troublesome days. but the settlers |
zane forth all the more firmly ground
I'd In faith.
eat once Pastor C. F. W. Walther,
)ne of the younger immigrant pastors,
rose to leadership. During the rs years
hat have elapsed since he was the |
irst president, the Synod has shown a
growth. Its pastors have
increased from the original IL to 2, 900;
Is congregations from the l6 repre-
ented in Chicago on the dav of the or
to $500. with 1000 addition
Il preaching stations. 1t has 1910
PARISH schools, which are attended by
,ver 5000 children. The Synod owns
md controls IA colleges and seminaries.
The membership of our Synod embraces
more than 1000. 900 souls in all parts
f the United States and Canada, and
ogether with other synods agreeing
With US in dotcrine, it forms the larg-
st Lutheran body in the world"
Mr.. Hilgendorf stated that mission
fOIh was DSinB COiuuCtCu III every
tate in the Union except South Caro-
ina. Extensive work is being con-
ucted among the negroes. Foreign
MISSIONS have been inaugurated in Bra
il and Argentina. The organization
perates Is hospitals and two sanitari-
ms, which have a property value of
4, ,087, 900 Some $4,000 patients are
reated at these, much of the work
eing pure charity. Nine orphan homes
alued at $3.50, 600. shelter $50 children.
thirteen home finding societies gather
p some 200 waits a year and place
hem in Christian homes for adoption.
)ur Synod has two training schools for
hildren, a school for deaf mutes, and
ther institutions Of mercy for the poor
nd afflicted. Nine homes for the aged
axe care of some 400 helpless old peo-
lie. During the past year the Synod
as spent 81, ,54S, TIC for charitable pur-
oses.
Mr.. Hilgendorf's father, Rev. J. Hill
endorf, a veteran pastor of the church,
Tho makes bis home here, was for
lany years vice president of the Synod.
lie resigned because his hearing had
ecome defective.