The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-17
Lutheran
Convention
.Ope,n,'.;,,.::.:::s.' y.
City AEes" .wded to
Capacity "alther League
Assemblies for Con.
ference.
300-Voice Chorus Sings
30O-Voice Chorus Sings

The city auditorium was crowded
TO its capacity yesterday afternoon
at the opening services OF the 50th
international convention OF the Wal
ther league. an organization OF Lu-
thcran young people with 10000
members.
A big band OF Walther leaguers
from Fremont furnished music pre-
ceding the services. The band ar
rived yesterday morning and march
ed from the station TO Hotel Rome,
convention headquarters, where It
played sacred music IN the lobby.
The OmahaWalthcr League cho-
rus OF 800 voices one OF the best
trained choruscs in the west, sang
two special numbers.
Sermon by Chiesgoan.
The sermon was by Rev. Paul G.
Prokopy OF Chicago. on the text,
Fear the Lord and Serve Him III
Sincerity and Truth"
when we cease giving mere spare
time and small change to the Lords
cause the solution OF the serious
problems now confronting the world
will be on the way" he declared:
Law and order are being tlouted
and the mob spirit prevails Suspi-
cion and alarm are in the air because
there is so much deceit and fraud.
Nations treHble on the verge OF
immortality gnaws at
the vitals and foundation of the state
and pleasure madness and money
madness are rife.
Sees Symptoms Of Decay.
Even in the body Of the shurch
there are symptoms Of decay. Many
{ ehurches have lost sight of their mis-
sion of soul saving and have become
social clubs, teaching that the only
thing necessary to salvation is to do
good. Doing good is part OF our
religion but it is not the foundation.
1t is our mission to restore to re-
ligion its pristine principles and pre-
serve its vigor in true theology ana
faith"
An address of welcome was made
by Rev. Lawrence Acker of Omaha:
Spirited singing of hymns and OF
songs written for the convention
marked the opening service. :.
It was said to be the largest audi
.nce ever assembled in Omaha for a
religious convention.
Ali day yesterday delegations con.
inued to arfive at headquarters and
he lobby OF the Rome hotel pre-
,ented an appearance of great activv-
ty as they we're assigned to hotels
md homes.
500 Delegates Here.
Up to last night there were SUI
delegates and more than l,O0O other
persons from out of town already
registered for the convention. The
Rome, Castle, Flatiron and Keen
1otels were already filled and many
yuests were assigned to private
homes.
The California delegation. number
ng 50, has headquarters at the Castie
1otel. More than 50 are here from
New York city. The third largest
delegation is from St; Louis. Others
IRE from Alabama, the far north.
vest, New England, Canada and
rom all over the country:
Two girl delegates hiked here
rom Cedar Rapids, Ia, covering the
III miles in 10 days. .,
The league colors, orange ana
black, are displayed in hotel lobbles
md on automobiles, Of which q great
leet are engaged transporting the
,isitors.
Amelia Wehrs, chairman of the ex-
.cutive board Of the convention, has
staff of assistants, and the Cham-
,er of Commerce has staff coop
.rating to take care of the big affair.
Mayor to Speak.
The convention proper will open
It 8:45 this morning in the Auditori-
IN, with devotional exercises, fol-
owed by addresses of welcome by
Mayor Dahlman and J. Gehrig. A
'esponse will be made by A. A.
11rossnann, president of the league.
Reports will be made by the exec
tive secretary, field secretary. treas
lrer and service secretary. Rev. R.
esse of St. Louis will make an adj
Iress on What the Church Ex-
'ects of Its Young People" ,
This afternoons session will open ,
With report by the junior SECRETARY,
Iulda A. Eickhoff, followed by an
ddress by Prof. ]. T. Mueller Of St.
-ous.
A march by the leaguers through
he streets Of the city is scheduled
or this afternoon and tonight there
viii be an automobile tour through
,ouncil Bluffs and a picnic at Fair
Mount park. The men Of the con-
ention are invited to see the Ak
'ar-Ben show tonight.
The convention will continue until
A big banquet will be
eld in the autditoium tomorrow