USA > Illinois > Fayette County > Vandalia > Minutes twenty-ninth annual convention Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1899 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
-16-
which accumulated previous to the term of the present pastor, be cancelled.
5. That on account of the sickness of the pastor covering four months, the delinquency of Mt. Solomon, Corydon, be cancelled. Respectfully submitted, WM. J. FINCK, Acting Treasurer.
2. Treasurer's Report.
RECEIPTS.
Cash in my hands at close of the last convention
in the several funds.
$ 760 37
DISBURSEMENTS.
For Home Missions, General Council $ 100 00
For Home Missions, Chicago Synod. 100 00
For Foreign Mission, General Council 100 00
For Printing Minutes of Synod. 87 00
For Education. 85 00
$ 472 00
Balance on hand. $ 288 37
Received from Rev. W. J. Finck during Synod. 307 28
Balance in Treasury, May 25, 1899 $ 595 65 Respectfully submitted,
D. J. MILLER, Treasurer.
Combining the totals of the two parts of this report we have the following result:
Total Income.
.52,229 86
Expenditures, G. C. Home Missions. .$400 00
Synodical Home Missions 353 02
Beneficiary Education 370 00
Foreign Missions
284 22
Synodical Expenses
130 66
Sundries
96 31 51634 21
Balance in Treasury.
$ 595 65
SECRETARY.
The report was received. The financial parts of the report were referred to the Auditing Committee and the recommendations were adopted item by item by the Synod. Adjourned with prayer by Rev. M. J. Stirewalt, D.D.
-
-17- THIRD SESSION.
Friday, May 26, 1899, 2:00 p. m.
The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. J. M. G. Sappenfield. The roll was called and the min- utes were approved.
The reading and consideration of the proposed By- Laws were continued and it was decided to adopt them provisionally for one year including the next convention, and to print them as an appendix to the minutes.
Report of Committee on Protocol and Minutes of Previous Convention.
We beg leave to submit the following report: We have ex- amined the protocol and printed minutes of the last convention and desire to draw the attention of the Synod to the following items:
1. That on the tenth page of the minutes we find a recom- - mendation that a committee be appointed to arrange the redistrict- ing of parishes within the bounds of this Synod. On page twenty- six, we find this committee's report. Your committee suggests that the pastors of the respective parishes report the progress, if any, to the Synod at this meeting.
2. Page nineteen. The Secretary was instructed to inquire whether or not ordination certificates have been published by the General Council; and also to bring to the attention of the Council the need of letters of dismissal for pastors and church members. Has the Secretary any information to give Synod in this matter?
3. Page twenty-nine. In the report of the delegation to the General Council, we find a recommendation from the General Council that District Synods bring the subject of Church Exten- sion before the Synod at the public services. Your committee re- joices to say that in the addresses of both Rev. G. H. Gerber- ding, D.D., President of Synod, and Rev. W. K. Frick, of Mil- waukee, President of the Synod of the Northwest. due prominence was given to this subject.
4. The present volume of the Protocol being now filled, we recommend that it be placed together with the other volumes, in
-
-18-
the archives of the Synod, and that the Secretary be authorized to purchase a new book for the next volume.
Respectfully submitted,
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted item by item.
In reference to item one, the pastors concerned re- ported, showing that the matter had been presented to the congregations.
Item two was answered in person by the Secretary of the General Council. Whereupon it was decided that the Secretary of Synod find out how many certifi- cates are needed, secure the required number from the treasurer of the Pennsylvania Ministerium, and issue them in proper form to the ministers ordained by Synod.
Report of Committee on Benevolence.
1. Your Committee arranged for a public service on Thursday evening of this synodical convention, specially devoted to the sub- ject of Benevolence. The address was delivered by the Rev. W. K. Frick, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, President of the Synod of the Northwest. The offerings for the evening were $16.35. Your Committee recommends that this sumn be given to the Passavant Memorial Hospital at Chicago.
2. Once more we call attention to the needs of this Institution of Mercy within our own bounds at the very doorstep of our Synod and which may rightfully claim our charities. Your committee would therefore respectfully recommend that each pastor call the attention of his congregation to the necessity of making a dona- tion or taking up an offering for the benefit of this institution and the similar one at Jacksonville, Illinois, which is named after him whose memory we all hold sacred and dear. As an appropriate season for the donations or offerings, we would suggest Thanks- giving Day.
3. Your committee begs leave to suggest that during the com- ing year the pastors of this Synod endeavor to give prominence to the work of Benevolence in their congregations. Surely there is no work more divine. more human, than that which occupied so great a part of the ministry of the God-man, the sympathetic
-19-
Saviour of men, who went about doing good, curing diseases, heal- ing those who were oppressed with the Devil, comforting the father- less and the widow, and bringing healing and joy into homes of pain and sorrow.
4. The committee desires to thank the Rev. W. K. Frick, for his kindness in delivering the address on Benevolence. We recom- mend that his expenses be paid by Synod.
5. The committee notes with pleasure the presence of Sister Mary E. Bowin.in, Sister-in-charge of the Passavant Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, Illinois, and Sister Martha Gensike, direct- ing Sister of the Motherhouse and Milwaukee Hospital, Milwau- kee, Wisconsin.
6. We commend the Deaconess work to the pastors of Synod; we suggest that they not only remember it in prayer, but also present its needs and impress upon the young women of our con- gregations the necessity of giving not only of their means but the giving of theinselves to this noble work of God.
Respectfully submitted,
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted item by item.
Report of Committee on Absentees.
1. We, your committee, have received letters stating reasons for absence from this convention of Synod from the following members: Rev. Prof. R. F. Weidner, D.D., Rev. S. P. Fryberger, Rev. A. V. House, Rev. John Good, and Rev. C. Koerner. We recommend that these brethren be excused.
2. A request for leaving Synod before its close was received from Rev. William Evans. He begs to be excused in order that he may hold his regular services on Sunday. We recommend that he be excused. Respectfully submitted,
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received, adopted item by item, and the following resolution was presented:
RESOLVED, That it is the sense of this Synod that every pastor connected with it should be present at its sessions from the first to the last and that every parish should cheerfully arrange to make this possible for its pastor, even when the convention continues over a Lord's Day.
-20-
Its consideration was pending when the hour of ad- journment arrived.
At 3:45, a paper was presented by the Rev. Loran O. Pearch on "Church Music," which was followed by a dis- cussion lasting to the hour of adjournment.
Adjourned with prayer by the Rev. J. Wesner.
FOURTH SESSION.
Saturday, May 27, 1899, 8:30 a. m.
The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. A. J. Reichert. The roll was called and the minutes were approved. The resolution pending at the close of the last session was unanimously adopted.
Report of Committee on Treasurer's Report.
We your committee to whom were referred the Reports of the Treasurer and of the Acting Treasurer, beg leave to report that we have carefully compared the items of the reports with the book ac- counts and vouchers and find the reports correct.
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted. Report of Committee on Home Missions.
We respectfully submit the following report:
Meetings of the Committee.
The committee held meetings during the year as follows: Whitestown, Indiana, September 23, 1898: Chicago, January 9, and April 4, 1899. The business transacted at these meetings, and the one held during this convention, is summarized in this report.
The Missions.
The following congregations are now under the care of this committee, and receive aid from the funds placed at our disposal : St. Peter's, Chicago; Hope. Crisman; Zion's, Portland; and St. James', Chicago.
-21-
St. Peter's, Chicago.
This mission has heretofore received aid from Synod, and from the Student's help fund of the Seminary. Student H. B. Reed has served it faithfully and acceptably during the past two years, and is now called by the committee and congregation to become its pastor. Having completed his course of study, the aid from the Seminary ceases. During these two years a lot was secured and a brick church bought and is now being moved thereon, which will be refitted and used as a place of worship. The mission has a flourishing Sunday school of two hundred pupils and seventeen teachers, and an active Ladies' Society which renders much help. Recently another Sunday school was organized with one hundred pupils and and four teachers. This school is under the manage- ment of St. Peter's.
The mission asks for $300 from the committee for the ensuing year, beginning May 1, to supplement the pastor's salary. The petition is granted.
Hope, Crisman, Indiana.
Since the last convention the mission has been supplied by students from the Seminary. At the committee's meeting in April, Student Alonzo H. Arbaugh was called by the committee to this mission, the call to be approved by the congregation.
Mr. Arbaugh, however, has declined the call. Student Baisler has been secured to supply the place during the summer, and the comninittee has decided to allow him $16.66 per month for the five months, beginning May 1, 1899. At the close of this period we hope to be able to make provision for its further supply. Mr. Baisler also is to labor at Miller's and Lake, two good points near Crisman. When organizations are effected at these points, we will have practically a self-sustaining parish.
Zion's, Portland, Indiana.
Rev. C. L. V. Dozer was called to this field by the committee last year. and entered upon his work very auspiciously. A church has been erected and almost paid for. A debt of $300 is unprovided for. The property owned by this mission at a conservative esti- mate, is valued at $2,500. On Whitsunday the church was con- secrated. A Sunday school is maintained, and a class of cate- chumens prepared for confirmation. In addition to Portland, Rev. Mr. Dozer also labors at
Alexandria, Indiana.
This is an important point, and in the judgment of the com-
.
-22-
mittee ought to be occupied. The prospects at present are not as bright as might be desired, yet there is reason for hoping for better conditions. Rev. Mr. Dozer has organized a Sunday school, en- rolling forty pupils. $52.76 have been contributed to the work at Alexandria by those concerned. The committee realizes that the field which Rev. Mr. Dozer is caring for is too large for one man, and only the lack of funds prevents the committee from placing a missionary at each point.
The committee has appropriated $240 in support of this field.
St. James', Chicago.
This mission was organized over a year ago. It has not had a fair chance to prove itself. It is located in a section that is strongly Lutheran, and where the residents own their homes. It has been served by Rev. M. E. Boulton during the Seminary year. He was supported from the Student's help fund. Student H. T. Weber has been asked by the mission to supply it during the sum- mer. Mr. Weber reports quite an improvement since he has taken charge. The General Council literature is used in its Sunday school. The committee appropriated $15 per month to this mis- sion for five months, beginning May 1, 1899, on the condition that it authorizes the Secretary of Synod to sign the Constitution of Synod on its behalf .*
Lafayette, Indiana.
Some work has been done in this city by Rev. A. J. Reichert. Services have been held and it is proposed to continne thein. The outlook is very gratifying. The Mulberry parish is deeply inter- ested in this movement. The committee has appropriated $50 for this work, providing it will be needed.
Other Points.
Rev. A. E. Gift reports that he has been holding services in Rochester, Indiana, with encouraging results, so much so that he contemplates organizing a congregation shortly.
A partial canvass of South Bend has been made, and quite a number of Lutherans found who express a desire for an English Lutheran Church. Rev. Mr. Anda, of Goshen, has signified his intention to push the work a little further and ascertain what can be done in this city.
Some preliminary work has also been done in New Castle.
*This condition was complied with in due form by vote of the congregation .- SEC'Y.
-
-23-
and Vincennes, Indiana, by Revs. J. Wesner and I. Whitman, respectively.
Jonesboro and Gas City, Indiana, are referred to the pastor of the Mulberry parish.
Our Field.
Much has been said concerning the field open to our Synod for missionary operations, but we need enlightenment on the subject in order that activity may be increased. Our field is large enough to tax the energies of a Synod ten times the strength of ours. Chicago alone is a vast mission field, and presents an open door to us. Other points which should be occupied are brought to our notice. We as a Synod are aided very materially in this mission work through the Student's help fund of the Seminary. By means of this fund, students doing mission work within reach of the Seminary, are supported without any additional burden upon the Synod during the scholastic year. A little assistance from Synod during the summer months makes it possible to carry on the work continuously. The committee will therefore co-operate with the Seminary authorities along this line.
Our Resources.
Our resources are limited. , About 5600 per year is all the committee can reasonably expect to have placed at its disposal to carry on the work. We think we could judiciously and profitably expend a much larger sum were it at our disposal. Be that as it may, we believe we can say that our Synod is doing more mission work at less expense than any other sister Synod in the General Council. But however much we have done and are doing, we have not come up to the measure of our duty.
Our Policy.
It is the aim of the committee to strengthen our Synod and our church by developing new fields and organizing new congrega- tions, which will become integral parts of this Synod. It pro- poses to follow and gather in the scattered members of our church and minister to the unchurched.
The committee will endeavor to arrange that when a student takes charge of a new point, he do so with a view of becoming the settled pastor of that mission.
It has also decided that it will grant no assistance to any mis- sion that does not use the General Council's literature and publi- cations in its Sunday school.
-24-
No new mission expecting assistance from this committee shall be projected without the committee's approval.
In order that the committee may be advised of the progress of the several missions, bi-monthly reports are to be made to its chairman by the missionaries or students serving them, and upon the receipt of these reports, he shall issue an order upon the treasurer of the committee for the salary due the missionary.
We would respectfully recommend that the beneficiaries of Synod at the Chicago Seminary do missionary work under the direction of this committee, with the consent of the Seminary authorities.
We also respectfully request that the Treasurer of Synod pay to the treasurer of this committee, in quarterly installments, the amount placed at the committee's disposal.
In order that the work mapped out by this committee for the ensuing year may be accomplished, we respectfully ask Synod to place at our disposal the sum of $600.
Respectfully submitted,
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted item by item.
Report of Committee on Reception of Congregations.
1. The committee has received an application from Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hall's Corner, Allen Co., Indiana. for membership in this body. As they have adopted the Constitu- tion recommended by the General Council for congregations, we recommend that they be received as a member of the Chicago Synod, and that their commissioner sign the Constitution of Synod.
2. St. James', Chicago, has complied with the requirements made by Synod at its last convention and as soon as it has signed the Constitution it is a regular member of this body.
Respectfully submitted,
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted item by item.
The report of committee on Ministerial Relief was heard, whereupon the committee was discharged. On motion it was decided that a special committee on Min- isterial Relief be appointed by the President, to which all cases of members of this body needing assistance
-
-25-
are to be referred. Fifty dollars were appropriated from the treasury of Synod for the disposal of this committee to be used at its discretion.
The report of the committee on Education, presenting a plan for Beneficiary Aid, was read and discussed. Its consideration was pending when the hour of adjournment arrived.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That we as a Synod express our gratification that we have with us the two sisters, Mary and Martha, from the hos- pitals at Jacksonville and Milwaukee, respectively, and we hope their presence will be a living object lesson to the young women of our churches to move them to a prayerful consideration of the high and holy calling of the Female Diaconate.
Adjourned with prayer by Rev. A. E. Gift.
FIFTH SESSION.
Saturday, May 27, 1899, 2:00 p. m.
The devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. A. E. Gift. The roll was called and the minutes approved.
The discussion of the plan for beneficiary aid was continued and its rules and regulations were provisional- ly adopted for one year and ordered to be printed in the minutes. (See Appendix.)
Report of Committee on Conferences.
Your committee would respectfully report that owing to the change in the time of the meeting of Synod, no meetings of either Conference were held and therefore we have nothing to report. M. L. WAGNER, W. A. SADTLER. The report was received and adopted.
In order to aid the committee on Apportionments, the following appropriations were made by vote of Synod: For Synodical Home Missions, $600; for Home Missions
-26-
of the General Council, $700; for Foreign Missions, $200; for Beneficiary Education, $300; for Synodical Expenses, $150; for Ministerial Relief, $50; total, $2,000.
Report of Committee on Parochial Reports and Apportionments.
Your committee would respectfully report that we have made the apportionments on the same basis as last year, namely, forty cents for each confirmed member, making exceptions only in case of missions and of congregations that are practically missions.
It will be observed that Synod has appropriated for the several objects a larger sum than is apportioned. The committee would state that the apportionments made are the minimum amounts asked for the year's work.
The tables of apportionments and the tabulated parochial re- ports are herewith presented as part of this report. ..
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was adopted and the table of apportion- ments and the parochial statistics were ordered printed in the minutes. (See Appendix.)
An invitation was received from the kind people of St. James' Church, Vandalia, through Mr. Henry A. Stone, to take a carriage ride at seven o'clock on Monday morn- ing, the weather permitting. The invitation was accepted and the hour for opening on Monday was set for 9:30 a. m.
At 3:30 a paper was presented by the Rev. I. Whit- man on the subject, "The Pastoral Office." It was fol- lowed by a discussion which lasted till the hour of ad- journment.
Adjourned with prayer by Rev. S. Wagenhals, D.D.
SIXTH SESSION.
Monday, May 29, 1899, 8:30 a. m.
The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. Zenan M. Corbet. The roll was called and the minutes
-27-
approved. The newly-ordained brethren signed the Con- stitution and their names were added to the clerical roll.
The President appointed the following special com- mittee on Ministerial Relief: Revs. A. J. Reichert, D. L. Reese and S. P. Fryberger. Rev. Dr. Stirewalt was re-appointed Keeper of the Archives.
Rev. M. L. Wagner, in behalf of Mrs. Dieckmann, re- ported that the property offered by her to Synod as an educational institution, was now offered as a home for the aged. Whereupon the following resolutions were adopted:
WHEREAS, We have heard with great pleasure the statement of Rev. M. L. Wagner, on behalf of Mrs. Elizabeth Deickmann, in regard to the establishment of a home for the aged in Vandalia, ~ Illinois, therefore be it
RESOLVED, I. That Synod cordially comply with the request of Mrs. Deickmann to appoint a Board of Trustees for the home, consisting of four clerical and three lay meinbers with the follow- ing provisions:
1. Said Trustees shall be members in good and regular stand- ing of congregations connected with the Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
2. This Board shall be regularly incorporated according to the laws of the State of Illinois and shall have power to adopt a constitution and by-laws for its guidance in the maintenance and and regulation of the home.
3. This Board shall be self-perpetuating under the limita- tions of Section 1 of this resolution.
4. The term of office of the members of this Board shall be three years, but at the first election one clergyman and one lay- man shall be elected for one year; one clergyman and one layman for two years; two clergymen and one layman for three years.
5. This Board shall annually furnish a general report for insertion in the ininutes of this Synod, embodying such informa- tion as the board may desire to bring to the attention of the church.
RESOLVED, II. That this Synod cordially commend this home to its congregations and to all benevolent persons interested in its noble work.
1
-28-
A committee consisting of the President and Dr. Wagenhals was appointed to nominate the Board of Trustees.
The Committee on Educational Institution reported progress and was continued.
Report of Committee on Beneficiary Education.
Your committee begs leave to report the following:
1. That a letter has been received from the Rev. M. E. Boul- ton thanking the Synod for the aid received and requesting that a reduction on the amount paid him be made for missionary services rendered. We recommend that the President of the Synod send him a reply informing him that according to the rules and regu- lations under which he received aid, he is not bound to repay what was appropriated, except he prove unfaithful to his calling.
2. That during the year three other students were aided from the funds of the Synod in the prosecution of their studies, namely, John V. Sappenfield and Howard E. Snyder, at Thiel College, and Andrew M. Sappenfield, at Gustavus Adolphus College. St. Peter, Minn. Student John V. Sappenfield completes the course at Thiel and desires to enter the Theological Seminary at Chicago in the fall. To enable these young men to continue their studies at these institutions, respectively, your committee recommend- that the sum of $100 be appropriated to each.
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted item by item. Report of Committee on Foreign Missions.
Your committee would respectfully report that a service in the interests of Foreign Missions was held on Sunday evening. at which the Superintendent of Foreign Missions of the General Council, the Rev. J. Telleen, delivered the sermon. The offerings amounted to $20.
The committee notes with pleasure the increased interest mani- fested in this cause. During the past two years $364.22 were re- mitted, making an average of $182.11 for each year. The com- mittee feels that at least $300 should annually be contributed for this great cause.
The committee would draw the attention of all friends of the heathen to the most feasible way of doing foreign mission work
-29-
by educating and supporting native workers and providing for the establishment of institutions of learning in the field for this pur- pose. We suggest therefore that our pastors recommend to their friends, schools and congregations that they undertake to support native scholars, students, teachers and pastors, that our work in India may prosper and bear fruit abundantly.
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted.
Invitations for the next convention were received from St. John's, Hicksville, and Zion's, Mulberry. Lay delegates, C. O. Myers, J. A. Booher, G. E. Rohrabaugh, and Albert J. Downey, were appointed tellers and upon the third ballot they reported the selection of Hicksville as the place. Time, Thursday, June 7th, 1900.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.