USA > Ohio > Richland County > Mansfield > A history of the Wittenberg Synod of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1847-1916 > Part 7
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right to discontinue the funds for sufficient reasons ; requires notes and pledges to refund in the event of not entering the Lutheran Ministry, or quitting the Ministry of the Lutheran Church under 12 years of faithful service, which term is considered sufficient to cancel such obligation .*
V. G. A. TRESSLER, D. D., PH. D.
During the last decade ( 1906-16) Wittenberg Synod has more than doubled her work, in men and money, for ministerial Education. The credit for this increase is mainly due to the wise management
*Min. 1913, pp. 38-44.
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and forceful appeals of the Chairman of her Educa- tional Committee, Dr. V. G. A. Tressler, to keep the ranks filled with a capable and efficient ministry. Through all these years he has not failed to plead with noble earnestness the cause so dear to his heart.
(3) Catechisation
The historical method of the catechisation of the youth and the indoctrinating of the membership in the standards of the Lutheran Church, distinguishes the christianity of the Lutheran Church as pre-eminently educational. Not only her devotion to the higher education as shown in her planting and maintenance of Christian Colleges, and her system of Beneficiary Education as a means of providing an educated min- istry, but also by instructing in the fundamentals of religion ALL her membership, young and old, both before and after their introduction into church mem- bership, she lays, deep and strong, her foundations, and secures her steady progress throughout the ages. Wittenberg Synod's Committee on State of Religion in 1868, said :
19 "In view of the fact that Christian progress does not depend upon the number of persons we receive, but the num- ber we retain in our churches, we suggest and urge that those who unite with our church, should, also, attend a course of catechetical lectures after they unite with the church."
The large ingatherings from all sources during the period of expansion, kept busy all the general activities of the church in methods of extension. Dur- ing these years, revivals of religion were the only
19 Minutes 1868, p. 17.
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popular method of calling the people to the churches and to church-membership, and the catechism was seldom used for reaching the children or for the religious instruction of our church membership. Puri- tan methods and spirit held sway, and educational methods were but little known. The proper and neces- sary foundation work for a stable religious life was greatly neglected.
Immediately following the General Synod's re- newed declaration of loyalty to the Confessional basis of the Lutheran Church, in 1864, Wittenberg Synod bestirred itself in efforts to restore the use of the catechism in its congregations, not only in forming catechetical classes but also recommended the intro- duction of the catechism in the Sunday-school and Bible classes.
It also urged that sermons be preached on the importance of catechetical instruction, and a column was opened in its Parochial Tables to report the num- ber of catechumens taught in each pastorate.
It Resolved, """That we as a Synod re-affirm our approval of the practice of catechisation as an im- portant means of training the young in the fear of the Lord, and in the faith of our Church, and bringing them into the church as intelligent, active, and devoted Christians, and we recommend it earnestly to the at- tention of all our pastors, and urge them to organize catechetical classes, wherever and whenever practi- cable."
For several years in succession the Synod ap- pealed with increasing urgency to pastors that they
20 Minutes, 1864, p. 14.
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urge on parents to co-operate with them in the work of religious instruction. The following resolution will but fairly express the deep conviction of the synod on this important subject :
21 "WHEREAS, Almost our entire strength has been spent to build up the church through revival efforts and Sabbath- schools, thus leaving catechization and parental instruction with but little attention; and
"WHEREAS, Most parents seem inclined to neglect their duties at home. excusing themselves, because their children attend Sabbath-school, therefore,
"Resolved, That it is the judgment of Synod, that, while we would not underestimate the importance of re- vivals of religion, or Sabbath-schools, yet they can never take the place of catechetical and parental instruction, and ought not be permitted to supplant them."
It is now to be noted that this agitation resulted most favorably and the statistical tables show that in the next decade a marked increase appears in the number of catechumens and confirmations and also an evident increase in the number of students for the ministry, and in 1872 the largest number of candi- dates in the history of this synod were licensed and ordained to that Holy Office.
Also a noticeable decline in the following decade is manifest, though unaccountable, because there was no lessening of the urgency in the presentation of the subject. For four years or more no catechumens were reported in parochial tables, and it seemed that all former efforts were lost in the meagerness of re- sults. But not so. A little later it was reported that "nearly all our pastors give instructions in the cate-
21 Minutes, 1871, p. 17.
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chism and the practice is evidently growing in favor." This seems to have been the beginning of a steadfast devotion to the practice, for the tables show that, as the succeeding years have passed a steady increase appears in the number of catechumens reported and also in the number of congregations reporting this work, until two-thirds to three-fourths of our congre- gations report a good number being taught each year.
With the opening of the new century, without ยท any known or assignable cause, there came a special increase of attention to this work, stirred, - it may be, - by a ringing resolution of the synod, which said :
Resolved, 22 "That we deplore the lack of parental au- thority so often manifested in the religious training of the youth. God demands of parents that they bring up their children in the fear and nurture and the admonition of the Lord. The secular school without the Bible; the Sunday- school with its twenty-six hours' training per year; all this is far from the religious training God demands for our children. We urge upon all our pastors to stir up parental conscience and insist on thorough catechetical instruction of the youth of all ages."
Catechization is no longer an experiment. In every Lutheran congregation it must be reckoned a permanent and essential part of the pastor's work. It is notable in the records of this Synod that the churches and pastors who insist most strenuously on this biblical method of doing the Lord's work, are the most successful in the strengthening of Zion, report- ing also the greatest ingathering to the membership.
22 Minutes, 1903, p. 45.
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The truth that, psychologically, early adolescence is the period when spiritual truth can best be im- pressed upon the mind and heart, needs to be strongly emphasized. Historically, it is the standard method of the Lutheran Church to evangelize by means of the teacher. She exalts the Word. She fully adopts the method of the great Commission, "Go ye into all the world and make disciples (learners, students) of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and TEACH- ING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you alway even to the end of the days."
"When Luther saw the need of religious instruc- tion he introduced the catechism; when Spener, 200 years later, felt the need of a religious awakening in Germany, he made use of this conservative method with glorious success ; when Weichern saw the dark clouds of revolution rising, he led the indifferent peo- ple into church through systematic instruction."
The last decade in the history of the churches of Wittenberg Synod, and for that matter, its whole his- tory, shows clearly that the greatest increase in mem- bership and benevolence has kept pace with her fidelity to this historic method in promoting the work of the Kingdom of Christ.
The records amply show that the emphasis with which Wittenberg Synod has insisted on the continued and universal use of the catechism, in all the propa- ganda of the church, has not been misplaced.
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(4) Historical Theology - Professorship
The movement on the part of Wittenberg Synod to endow a chair of Historical Theology in Witten- berg College was occasioned by the action of the Board of Directors to arrange for a proper observance of the Semi-Centennial of Wittenberg College in 1895, by a substantial increase in its endowment.
Co-operating Synods on the territory of Witten- berg College took up their part of the work in the form of an increase in the general endowment. Wit- tenberg Synod taking up its share in the purpose to raise $25,000 for the endowment of a chair of His- torical Theology in the Divinity School, and the East Ohio Synod to endow the chair of the President of the College. To this end a special session of Witten- berg Synod was called to meet in Bucyrus, Ohio, Dec. IIth and 12th, 1894, "To promote the interests of Wittenberg College."
At this meeting the Wittenberg Synod adopted the following recommendations on behalf of the Directors of Wittenberg College :
23 "WHEREAS, We recognize the power of a college and Seminary in the promotion of Christ's Kingdom on earth ; and,
"WHEREAS, We desire to promote in every way possible the efficiency of Wittenberg College; therefore,
"Resolved, That Wittenberg Synod undertake to raise twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) to endow an addi- tional Chair in the Theological Department of the College, said Chair to be that of Historical Theology, and to be known as Wittenberg Synod Chair; this amount to be raised in five years upon the territory of the Synod; that we pledge
23 Minutes, 1898, pp. 11 and 12.
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the payment of six per cent interest on the above amount, or any part of the principal remaining unpaid, until the full amount is paid; interest to begin when the proposition is accepted by the College Board. Notes that shall be given to be payable within five years from date of note.
"Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Synod to co-operate with the members of Wittenberg Faculty in canvassing the synod to raise the money."
This committee was appointed to carry out this resolution. Progress in the work of the Committee was reported from year to year. In 1899 this com- mittee selected one of its number to complete the work of solicitation, according to the following recom- mendation of Synod : (Min., 1899, p. 21).
(1) That effort be made to secure the remain- der of the amount undertaken by the Synod, without celay.
(2) That the committee be authorized to em- ploy. at suitable compensation, some one to prosecute the work of completing the endowment of this pro- fessorship, and to devise and execute any measures necessary for its accomplishment.
(3) That the committee be continued and render all assistance possible to the pastors in this effort.
At the session of Synod convened in Leipsic, Ohio, in 1905, the commitee reported as follows : (Min., 1905. p. 31).
"Your committee takes pleasure in reporting that the fund of $25,000 for the endowment of the Chair of His- torical Theology in Wittenberg Theological Seminary has been completed from the Stroud estate, in accordance with the agreement with the Board of Directors, and that said Chair has been created, and an encumbent will be elected at such a time as may seem expedient to the Board."
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(5) Laymen's Movement, and Lutheran Brotherhoods
One of the most gratifying and helpful move- ments in church activities in these modern times is the one inaugurated in 1907 by the General Synod in its session at Sunbury, Pa., and known as "The Lay- men's Movement."
It was in line with the current movement in all religious bodies, known as the "Men and Religion" movement. It is both a natural and legitimate ex- pression of wide-reaching religious awakening among the men of Christendom to the realization of the great fundamentals of the Christian religion, - the awakening of the consciences of intelligent Christian men to the truth that among all the religions of time, Christianity is pre-eminently the religion for men, - that it, as a system of revealed truth, appeals most of all to the higher and more virile qualities of true man- hood, and calls men to the highest and noblest ideals in life.
The movement was introduced in the General Synod by the pronounced addresses of a number of prominent laymen on the benevolent work of the church.
Out of the inspiration afforded in these addresses came a general committee with its chairman which should act as an aid to pastors in securing a deeper interest among the men of the churches in their benevolent work.
This committee was expected, also, to arrange all the details of organization and management through- out the General Synod and the District Synods. By means of a series of "follow up" letters, tens of thou- sands of appeals were sent out, urging the laymen to
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organize in the congregations of the various synods. Thus, this great wave of religious awakening touched our own Wittenberg Synod with a most noble impulse and a motto, "No deficit in any benevolence." Witten- berg Synod was among the first to join hands in the general movement, and in its convention in 1907, at Carey, Ohio, heard, with welcome delight, the first addresses by its own laymen in the interest of this special work, and responded in the following manner : ( Min., 1907, p. 45).
"Resolved, That we have heard with pleasure the repre- # sentatives of the Laymen's Movement of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and that we, as a synod, heartily commend this movement of our earnest laymen, and will pledge our hearty co-operation in their plans and purposes as they have been presented to us, and trust all men of our congregations will join in this move- ment of great possibilities for the honor of our God and the extension of His Kingdom, and that we will elect a repre- sentative from this Synod to serve on the General Commit- tee."
For successive conventions of this synod, lay- men's rally meetings were held at which most strongly urgent addresses were made by prominent laymen of the Synod, and also by the General Synod's Field Secretary for this movement, and, following the next convention of the General Synod in 1909, this Synod promptly seconded the General Synod's suggestion of enlargement of the Laymen's Movement in the or- ganization of Lutheran Brotherhoods in our congre- gations that shall reach out along all lines of Chris- tian service.
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The following was adopted :
"Resolved, That our Synod learns with sincere grati- tude of the action of the General Synod in authorizing the preparation of a form of organization of the men of local congregations into societies for mutual helpfulness along the lines of Christian activity, and the federation of all these organizations into a General Brotherhood for our en- tire Church. We hail the movement as one of great prom- ise and pledge it our cordial co-operation and support. We heartily commend it to the men of our several congrega- tions and recommend to them, if successful societies are not already formed, that wherever practical, they organize along the lines suggested by the General Synod's committee, and that all these various men's societies unite in the plan for a brotherhood of the entire Church." ( Minutes, 1909, p. 30. )
Enthusiastic Laymen's Meetings have been held at every convention of the Synod from year to year. Brotherhood organizations and organized men's classes in Sunday-schools are on the increase, and, better still, as a direct result of this newest activity, more and more of our congregations are swinging into the excess column in their benevolent offerings year by year, and Wittenberg Synod, at present. ( 1915) leads all the Synods in the matter of excess in benevolence. For all these encouraging advances along educational lines, we thank God and take courage, believing that it pays in the highest sense to "forget the things that are past and press on" to better things. We have had sisterhoods in the form of Aid Societies in our congregation for many years. and almost every congregation knows the value of these aids to the local church. Men, also, can do something more in the church than to attend its ser- vices and support it in finances. They can buttress
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every effort to sustain the church's work along all lines of usefulness. They can help, in a masterful way to solve the "boy problem" as none others can do. They can take place on any program, of work, or worship, or entertainment, always helping rather than hindering their manhood. Jesus Christ was the manliest of men, and every strong Christian man is one of God Almighty's gentlemen, and no man, how- ever highly gifted he may be, however great in at- tainments, or in achievement, or however rich in estates, will fail to ennoble himself in thought and life, by being a loyal and diligent servant of Christ in His Church.
That there is no abatement of effort in this in- viting and encouraging field is in evidence from the following resolution adopted at a quite recent meet- ing of the Synod :
24 "Resolved, That the members of this Synod, both clerical and lay, be urged to keep in mind the possibilities of the Lutheran Brotherhood; that we strive to organize and cultivate Brotherhoods on our territory: that we utilize the energies of associated men and boys in pushing forward the Cause of our Church in this country and in other lands."
24 Minutes, 1910, p. 31.
CHAPTER V
The Sunday School and Young People
A PART from the cold statistics of tabulated statements appearing in parochial reports no recognition was made by Wittenberg Synod of any special importance attaching to the Sunday- school work of our churches prior to its convention at Springfield in 1864. At that meeting, Rev. J. W. Goodlin, D. D., in the President's report said in the second part of his remarks on the "State of Religion," "The brethren write very encouragingly of the Sab- bath-schools. Nearly everyone refers to them as 'Nurseries of the Church!' They speak of the in- creasing interest of the people in regard to them and of the increasing attendance of the children. God seems to be preparing in this way for a large ingather- ing of souls."* The following year, President D. Sum- mers made a similar recognition of the increasing in- terest in the Sunday-school work and of the attend- ance also. "Unusually flourishing" and "growing in interest" said the President's report for 1865. In the reports on the state of religion for 1866 and 1867, it was said of the Sunday-schools that they were in a "highly prosperous condition", "excellent", "in- creased 50% during the year", "officers, teachers and scholars alive to the interests of the work". Up to this time and for some time afterward a majority of
*Min. 1862, p. 21.
(118)
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the schools in the Synod, were Union in their organi- zation. But in 1862, Rev. Morris Officer introduced a resolution in view of the great and growing im- portance of our Missionary work, making it the duty of every pastor to present this work to the churches and Sunday-schools especially, and to secure regular offerings to the cause of benevolence .*
Some of the Sunday-schools as well as the con- gregations, began at once to contribute liberally to these objects. The number of schools contributing to the benevolences increased steadily and rapidly, creating difficulties manifold in the disbursement of these funds, and so, gradually, the number of Union Schools grew less until in 1880, but few were to be found in the Synod. Two main causes may be given for the retention of these Union Schools for so long a time. In the first place, our church work was not well organized. Much of the material making up our Sunday-schools was outside of our church mem- bership, and many people of other denominations than our own had to be handled somewhat in the way of compromise. Again, nearly, if not quite all of the literature, such as Teachers' Helps, Music, Hymns, Reward, and Progress Cards and Tickets, and Li- braries, were obtained from the American Sunday- school Union. From such a situation, it is easy to see that the demand for Union Schools was not easily to be set aside. The first strong impulse given to the development of our Sunday-school work in the Synod, was a resolution passed by the First National Lu-
* Min. 1864, pp. 20, 21.
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theran Sunday-school Convention held in Bucyrus, O., in 1873.
It would not be just to pass by the fact, here, that this Synod, in regular convention August 1873, prior to the National Sunday-school Convention, after earnest discussion, passed the following resolutions :
"5 1. That the Sunday-school is indispensible to the prosperity of the Church.
2. That Wittenberg Synod recommends the adoption of the International Series of Lessons in all its schools.
3. That a committee be appointed to correspond with the Editor of the Lutheran Observer, requesting him to pro- vide weekly expositions on the International Series of Sun- day-school Lessons.
4. That this Synod appoint a committee to confer with all the Synods connected with the General Synod to take into consideration the publication of a Sunday-school Teacher and Lesson Paper.
5. That this Synod fix a time to hold a National Sun- day-school Convention at as early a date as practicable, said Convention to be held at some central point within the bounds of this Synod and that each Synod of the General Synod be notified of the meeting and earnestly requested to send delegates to said Convention.
This Convention which was held in November following at the call of Wittenberg Synod, sought to grapple with all the then present needs of the Sunday- school work, and after vigorous and prolonged discus- sion on the necessity of providing Lutheran literature for Lutheran schools, by resolution urgently peti- tioned the Lutheran Publication Society, to publish
25 Minutes, 1873, pp. 15 and 16.
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comments for teachers and lesson leaves for the use of scholars, in the hope of encouraging lesson study and providing better teaching. The following year a second National Convention was held at Johnstown, Pa. This convention was very largely attended and exceedingly interesting and authorized the publication of a Teachers' Journal, to be named the "Augsburg Sunday-school Teacher". A third convention was held at Wooster, O. a year later and the National Con- ventions were subsequently held every two years with the suggestion that District Conventions be held by the Synods on the alternate years. At the Wooster Convention it was announced that the Augsburg Teacher had reached a circulation of over 6,000 copies and the lesson leaves of over 600,000 copies. The first Synodical Sunday-school Convention on our territory was held at Findlay, O., in May, 1875. These conventions were held annually for a period of ten years, and statistical reports were presented each year covering the whole field of Sunday-school activity. Then for a time, one whole day of the Annual Con- vention of Synod was devoted to the consideration of topics relating specifically to the work of the Sunday- school. In 1885, a joint committee of the Eastern and Western Conferences of this Synod, acting on the work of the Sunday-school, recommended that both Conferences devote one session of their annual con- ventions to the interests of the Sunday-school. So throughout the Synod's history these conventions were rallying points, centers of awakening to new plans, improved methods, and new measures were set on foot to promote the efficiency of the Bible school of the Church.
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Great things were accomplished in the broaden- ing of the conceptions of Sunday-school work and the widening of the scope of Sunday-school activities. It was seen to be a school not only for the children and young people up to the time of catechization and Church membership, but equally for all who can be interested in Bible study. It was not to begin where it formerly began, not only for the counting of num- bers, but also to turn the heads and hearts of parents to the Sunday-school attendance of their children. The babies of a few days old were to be listed on the Cradle Roll and the Birthday cards and the Christmas and Easter remembrances were sent to make the child long for the day of its entrance as an active scholar. Then the further organization of the school into de- partments, Primary, Intermediate and Senior, and, for the aged and "shut ins" who can never attend, the Home Department was organized. Then the Teach- ers' Meetings for the improvement of class work and also the teachers training courses continuing through several years, then the graded systems of lessons, designed to promote thoroughness of Bible Study and to afford a basis of promotion for Bible students from one department to another, the use of charts and maps and black boards and stereopticon, the proper arrangement of Sunday-school rooms and their equipment. Another forward step was taken, when the Synod in its annual session at Carey, O., in 1881, resolved, "That we insist upon our Sabbath-schools using the literature furnished by our own Church."*
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