Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-14

stones of their forefathers, and in
due time arrived on the hospitable
shores of America,
Alas! how helpless were these
immigrants, In strangeSland, to
some extent destitute in means,
how were they to flourish, to have
schools, colleges. But God had
His plans. These Lutherans found
wide and inviting field spread
before them. On the face of tho
globe they could not have found
a soil more adapted for the growth
and development of the Lutheran
church. From the very beginning
of its existence these Lutherans,
therefore, determined TO cultivate
this soil, that is, to spread the
word OF God among her people in
its divine purity, wherever 1t would
be heard, and thus SOW the seed
that brings forth fruit for life
eternal
Realizing that there is strength
in cooperation these Lutherans on
the 26th of April of the year 1S47
met in the city of Chicago, then a
town of 10000 inhabitants. and
with eight small congregations or
ganized our synod. calling the lit
tie child 1.-THE Evangelical Luth-
eran Synod OF Missouri, Ohio and
Other States.' This is the event
which has brought us together this
morning for a joyful celebration.
Seventy-five years have elapsed
since the organization of the Mis-
souri," synod. as it has become ia
miliarly known, and If we ask: Has
it succeeded? the cheerful reply
comes from more than $500 Luth-
eran congregations and nearly loco
mission stations, scattered broad
cast over the United States from
Maine to California, from the lakes
to the gulf. but all united by the
band of one faith. 1t has, thanks
to God. who shaped the course OF
the vessels that carried the Saxon
immigrants to America, and this
cheerful reply is re-echoed from
Canada. it is re-echoed from Ger
many, it is re-echoed from Austria
liza, it is re-echoed from South
America. it is re-echoed from
China and East India.
Need we ask. my Christian
| friends. If the divine promise has
been fulfilled or not: Il will bless
| thee?"
And again. In order to reach
the great multitudes of Lutherans
| coming to this vast country, and
to bring them the good tidings, the
gospel of Christ, it became neces-
sary to send forth men well pre-
/ n ~, thn onCnn1 Tho
Saxon immigrants were well aware
of this and no sooner had they es-
tablished congregations of their
own in st. Louis and Perry county,
Mo-, than they set about to erect
their first Theological Seminary
a rude log cabin with but one door
and two windows. in the wilds of
Perry county, Mo.
| We are aware that today that
body of Lutherans known as the
Missouri synod" that has sprung
up from these Saxon Lutherans
has two theological seminaries, one
of them in st. Louis, where new
million dollar building is soon to
be erected, the other at Spring
field, H., two normal schools, 10
colleges, and o number of minor
| institutions of learning, embracing
within their walls more than 1900
students which are preparing for
the ministry. Need we better proof
to become assured that Missouri.
synod has been abundartly
blessed?
And lastly. In bestowing upon
the Saxon immigrant blessir SIS
without number our heavenly
Father has added still other bless
ings. He has prospered them and
provided them with the necessities
of this life, in many cases bestow-
!, ing wealth and riches Of this world
upon them. The beautiful Luth-
eran churches to be seen in almost
every larger city, in hundreds OF
small towns and villages, the many
Lutheran institutions of charity
and Christian love, such as orphan
homes, institutions for deaf and
dumb, homes for the aged and in
firm, hospitals, and the like, CIV
| ing an assurance better than words
can do; even in things pertaining
to this life. the blessing Of God has
not been stinted.
And now let me add but a few
more words and point out to you
how equally well that second
promise in our text, "And thou
Shalt be u blessing" may also be
applied to the true Lutheran
church in America.
It is O. lesson taught by God and
proven by history time and again
that, accepting the gospel, nations
have become prosperous and album
dainty blessed of God. This great
/ lesson taught by God and proven
by history has been well taken to
| heart by the Lutheran church
Knowing temporal and spiritual
blessings to follow the word OF
| God, 1t has been her fundamental
principle to preach the gosrel
wherever her voice would be heard
Knowing that corrupting the word
meant ruin in the end, she has
from the very beginning. written
on her banner, 1.-THE Word OF God
and the Word Of God Only"
! Purity of doctrine has been he,
battle cry all along the line. and
1 this has been so well understood
by her enemies that it has become
u by-word to stigmatize Lutherans
-. al y.