The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Lutheranism, by Friedrich Bente

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Title: American Lutheranism Volume 2: The United Lutheran Church (General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South)

Author: Friedrich Bente

Release Date: January 15, 2008 [EBook #24304]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN LUTHERANISM ***

Produced by one of Myra Eve Bodling's grandfathers. Readers should note that, despite remarks in the Preface, the planned vols. 3 and 4 never appeared in print. Volume 1 is Project Gutenberg EBook #20941.

American Lutheranism
VOLUME II
The United Lutheran Church
(General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South)
By
F. BENTE
St. Louis, Mo.
CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE
1919

PREFACE.

American Lutheranism will appear in four volumes, this present second volume to be followed by the first, dealing with the early history of Lutheranism in America.

The third volume will present the history of the Ohio, Iowa, Buffalo, and the Scandinavian synods.

The fourth volume will contain the history and doctrinal position of the
Missouri, Wisconsin, and other synods connected with the Synodical
Conference.

As appears from this second volume, our chief object is to record the facts as to the theological attitude of the various Lutheran bodies in America, with such comment only as we deemed necessary.

As to the quotations from the Lutheran Observer and other English periodicals, we frequently had to content ourselves with retranslations from the German in Lehre und Wehre, Lutheraner, etc.

Brackets found in passages cited contain additions, comments, corrections, etc., of our own, not of the respective periodicals quoted.

If errors, no matter of whatever nature they may be, should have crept in anywhere, we here express our gratitude for corrections made.

Further prefatory and introductory remarks will accompany Vol. I, which, Deo volente, will go to the printers forthwith.

F. Bente, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.

May 28, 1919.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

THE UNITED LUTHYERAN CHURCH……………..1-11
Merger…………………………………..1
Constitution……………………………..5
Character………………………………..9
THE GENERAL SYNOD…………………….12-175
Organization…………………………….12
Character……………………………….19
Constitution…………………………….22
Evaluation………………………………25
Doctrinal Basis………………………….32
Basis Interpreted………………………..40
Unionism………………………………..48
Union Letter of 1845……………………..58
Christian Union………………………….63
Theology Reformed………………………..68
Revivalism………………………………76
"American Lutheranism"……………………89
Definite Platform Controversy…………….101
Position of District Synods toward Platform..111
General Synod's Attitude toward Platform…..117
York Convention…………………………123
Secessions and Separations……………….130
Influential Theologians………………….136
Missouri's Influence…………………….153
Explanatory Statements of Doctrinal Basis….158
Restatement of Basis…………………….161
Actual Conditions……………………….166
Un-Lutheran Practise…………………….170
THE GENERAL COUNCIL………………….176-227
Synods Composing the Council……………..176
Charles Porterfield Krauth……………….181
Other Representative Theologians………….187
Constitution……………………………190
Subtile Unionism………………………..195
The Four Points…………………………198
Akron-Galesburg Rule…………………….202
Interdenominational Fellowship……………204
Attitude toward Lodges…………………..207
Chiliasm……………………………….210
Other Aberrations……………………….212
Romanism……………………………….214
Synergism………………………………217
Liberalistic Trends……………………..220
Equivocal Doctrinal Attitude……………..224
THE UNITED SYNOD SOUTH……………….228-243
Organization……………………………228
Doctrinal Basis…………………………229
Indifferentism………………………….232
Un-Lutheran Practise…………………….234
Tennessee and Holston Synods……………..236
Common Service………………………….241

The United Lutheran Church.

MERGER.

1. Origin of the New Body.—On April 18, 1917, at Philadelphia, the Joint Quadricentennial Committee, appointed by the General Synod, the General Council, and the United Synod in the South to arrange for a union celebration of the Reformation, decided that the merging of the three affiliated general bodies would be "the fittest commemoration and noblest memorial of the four-hundredth Reformation Jubilee." Accordingly, the presidents of these bodies, being present, were requested to form a joint committee, which should prepare a constitution for a united Church and present the same to the three general bodies for their consideration, and, if approved, for submission to the District Synods. The constitution, framed by the committee, was in the same year adopted by all of the three general bodies, the General Synod, which, in 1820, had been founded for the express purpose of uniting all Lutheran synods in America, being the first to assent to the Merger during its session at Chicago, June 20 to 27, 1917. The various District Synods also having approved of the union and having ratified the constitution, the Merger was consummated at New York City, November 15, 1918. Dr. F. H. Knubel, a member of the General Synod, was elected President of the new body— "The United Lutheran Church in America." Of the total number of Lutherans in America (63 synods, 15,243 congregations, 9,790 pastors, 2,450,000 confirmed and 3,780,000 baptized members) the United Church embraces 45 synods, 10 theological seminaries with 46 professors and 267 students, 17 colleges, 6 academies, 3,747 congregations and mission-posts, 2,754 pastors, almost 1,000,000 baptized members, and 758,000 confirmed members, the General Synod contributing 364,000, the General Council 340,000, and the United Synod in the South 53,000. The United Church is the second largest Lutheran body in America, the Synodical Conference outnumbering it by only about 50,000 confirmed members. The merged bodies will continue to exist legally until no property rights are imperiled. In 1919 it was decided to consolidate the Lutheran, the Lutheran Church Work and Observer, and the Lutheran Church Visitor. The new church-paper will be The Lutheran, with Dr. G. W. Sandt