Evening star., 1939-01-26
World Convention
OF NLutherans
Is Discussed
Conference on Church
And Relations to
Welfare Planned

Plans for world Lutheran con-
vention to discuss the functions of
the church and its relation to social
problems were discussed at the con-
cluding session today of the 21st
annual meeting of the National
lutheran Council at the Ambassa-
dor Hotel.
The conference will be held in
Philadelphia from May % to June
2, 1910, and delegates from 81 coun-
tries are expected to attend.
At It's session yesterday the con-
ference accepted three studies re-
lating to the duty of the church and
its social relations. In one the Rev.
Dr. Martin Anderson of Chicago
chided the church and its ministers
for neglecting the social aspects of
the Christian mission.
Poverty With Abundance.
"We have poverty and suffering
in the midst of abundance" the Rev.
Dr. Anderson said. Millions are
hungry in the presence of plenty.
." There Is a cry for social and
SSOllOltllC llCNCl UC1OIC.
There have been casual refer
ences to these matters and the eX-
treme forms of radicalism have been
denounced. while the conditions that
produce radicals have been to large
extent overlooked.
"Our ministers are not out of
sympathy with the struggles of the
masses, but there has been lack
of awareness and a failure to rec
ognize the tragedy in the lives of
the poor. 1t is not for us as
preachers to pass on the question
Of whether or not the capitalistic
system has outlived its usefulness
and is unable to cope with the needs
of new day. But 1t is our duty to
insist that whatever economic sys-
tenn. governmental form, or social
philosophy we may have there must
be brotherly love. recognition of the
rights of others and of God as the
Creator, Redeemer and Judge"
Coordination Unit Approved.
The council approved a proposed
department to coordinate the
more than 300 independent Luther
an welfare agencies throughout the
United States. and named Dr. Clar-
ence E. Krumbholz of New York to
direct the work.
A proposal to organize a depart
ment of motion pictures was also
accepted.
In talk yesterday the Rev. DR..
Howard E. Snyder, pastor of the
+ Atonement Lutheran Church here,
said religion in armed forces since
the World War has been put on
dignified basis "as it never before
was in the history of the United
States Army"
Finds "God-Fearing" Men.
BEST of ALL" declared DR.. Snyder,
there are God-fearing men in the
Army and Navy"
Because of the enforced absence
Of commissioner of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church, Senator Shipstead
OF Minnesota was appointed as his
substitute.
The group decided that the Luth-
eran bodies should discontinue rela-
tionship with the General Council
on Army and Navy Chaplains of
the Federal Council of Churches. In
future they will be served by the
National Lutheran Council. A spe-
cial effort will be made to serve the
boys in the G. c. c. camps through
out the country Discussion also
concerned the advisability of estab-
fishing a Lutheran radio station in
the East.
Officers Reelected.
All officers were reelected for
another year. They are the Rev. DR..
Ellis B. Burgess of New York, presi-
dent; the Rev. DR.. Peter Peterson of
Chicago, secretary: the Rev. DR.. T
o. Burntvedt of Minneapolis, vice
president; Ernest F. Eilert of New
York, treasurer.
Mr.. Eilert is completing his 21st
year Of service He is the only officer
who has served uninterrupteoly
since organization in 1918.