USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania : with brief sketches of its congregations > Part 3
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" 2. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Synod the best way to accomplish this eminently desirable result would be for the two Synods to meet in convention for the purpose of fraternal consultation and for final action, should they see fit, at a time and place fixed by a joint committee appointed by the officers of both Synods.
" 3. Resolved, That in such joint convention, at the call of any three members of either Synod, any resolution shall require for its adoption a majority of each Synod.
"4. Resolved, That we heartily accede to the positions laid down by the Pennsylvania Synod, under the twenty-second reso-
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lution of their last session, and that we, on our part, adopt the following positions, as the basis upon which any plan of union that may be presented must be constructed."
[Reiteration of the Pennsylvania Synod's resolutions, etc. (see page 33) under a, b, c, d, e.] "The name of this Synod shall not be sunk in the issue of this effort to reorganize the Lutheran elements upon the territory of East Pennsylvania."
" 5. Resolved, That whilst the recent action of the Synod of Pennsylvania seems to indicate a preference for an actual union of both Synods, and whilst we decidedly prefer a geographical division of the territory now jointly occupied by them, we think it nevertheless more prudent that neither Synod should in advance insist upon its preferences in this respect, but that both should enter the proposed convention prepared to adopt and carry out any arrangement that the united wisdom of the ministers and lay delegates there assembled may determine upon.
"6. Resolved, That a committee of three clergymen and three laymen be appointed at the present meeting of this Synod, to act in conjunction with a similar committee which we ardently hope our mother Synod will appoint, to make all necessary prepara- tions for such a joint convention, and to announce the time and place of meeting. [Signed, C. P. Krauth, C. A. Hay, G. Parson, C. A. Kugler, J. G. L. Schindel.]"
The Secretary adds : "Dr. Krauth, at his own request, was permitted to sign his name to the report, as thus amended."
The minutes of the Pennsylvania Synod for 1864 contained the report of that Synod's part of the joint committee appointed to make the needful arrangements for a general convention of the two Synods to consider the subject of synodical union. It is as follows: "Your committee have the honor to report that they met in conference with the committee of the Synod of East Pennsylvania, Rev. Dr. Seiss serving as the Chairman, and gave their serious consideration to the subject laid before them, but they were unable to arrive at any satisfactory result, and ad- journed to meet again at the call of the Chairman. Respectfully submitted, by W. J. Mann, Chairman."
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EAST PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD.
The minutes state that "The above report was adopted, and the discussion of the subject continued until the hour for adjourn- ment arrived, when its further consideration was postponed until a later period during the meeting. Inasmuch as the Synod after- wards determined to hold a special meeting in July, it was con- cluded that this subject should be further considered at that time. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted at that special meeting in July, 1864 :
" WHEREAS, The Synod of East Pennsylvania appointed a com- mittee to confer with a similar committee from this body, to con- sider the terms upon which a union of the two Synods, or a geo- graphical division of the territory occupied by them, could be effected ; and
" WHEREAS, The President of this body, prior to the last stated meeting of the Synod of Pennsylvania, appointed such a Com- mittee of Conference ; and
"WHEREAS, These Committees, upon conferring together, found it impossible to accomplish anything further than to resolve to postpone the further consideration of the matter until after the meeting of this Synod to be held in Pottstown ; and
" WHEREAS, The pressure of business at Pottstown and at this special meeting has rendered a consideration of this momentous business out of the question ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this Synod has not changed its position in re- gard to this matter, and still, in good faith, presents the same terms of union."
" Resolved, That we request the Joint Committee of Confer- ence to resume their deliberations as soon as possible."
Then followed the retiring of the Pennsylvania Synod's dele- gates from the General Synod at York, and the President of the East Pennsylvania Synod (Dr. Fink), in his official report in 1864, remarks : "From the action of the Synod of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States on this subject, both at its regular and special meetings, as I learned it from observation and its published re- ports, I am inclined to think that further action on the part of
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this Synod, looking to a union of the two bodies, would be at once dishonorable and useless. The whole matter having been treated most cavalierly by the one party, I take the liberty most respectfully and earnestly to recommend to this body that the further consideration of the proposed union of the Synod of Pennsylvania and the Synod of East Pennsylvania be held in abeyance, until the older Synod, by its action, will make it possible for this Synod to further entertain the subject, and at the same time maintain its honor and self-respect." * * "Our relations to others who bear the same name, and occupy the same territory with ourselves, have always been peculiar, but never so very peculiar as now. Harmony and fellowship cannot subsist between two Synods, unless they treat each other with decent respect, argue their differences candidly and temperately, and pursue towards each other an open, fair and friendly line of con- duct. We have, especially of late years, manifested in every pos- sible way a spirit of conciliation, forbearance and concession, which has not always been met with the same spirit. We have sought peace, fellowship and union. In these we have not been successful to the full measure of our desire. Our duty to our- selves and to our Divine Master will permit us to yield no more, to concede no more, but peremptorily enjoins upon us to plant ourselves more firmly than ever upon the great principles and purposes which led to the formation of the Synod of East Penn- sylvania. Believing that the territory we occupy belongs of right to King Jesus, and that we have a well- authenticated com- mission to possess and cultivate it for him, we should enter upon our mission with new zeal and redoubled energy. No one can occupy a middle ground any longer; he that is not for us is against us. Our Synod has a work to do. May the Lord give her wisdom and strength to do it well, and then, and not until then, will the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eastern Pennsyl-
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vania become, what God designed her to be everywhere-a living power for good-a very ark of salvation for redeemed sinners !"
In 1865 the Standing Committee of Conference reported that no communication had been received by them from the Synod of Pennsylvania, and " the Committee was hereupon discharged."
In 1866 [after Fort Wayne !] a committee on the " Papers of the Pennsylvania Synod " reported as follows :
" The Committee No. 2, to whom has been referred the ‘Fra- ternal Address' issued by a committee of the Synod of Pennsyl- vania, with accompanying letter of Rev. G. F. Krotel, D. D., as Chairman of that committee, submitting the Address to this body, respectfully report :
"I. That the Address has been prepared and published in ac- cordance with a resolution of the Synod of Pennsylvania, adopted at Lancaster, after its secession from the General Synod, to in- vite 'All Evangelical Lutheran Synods, Ministers and Congrega- tions in the United States and Canadas, which confess the Unal- tered Augsburg Confession, to unite with them in a convention for the purpose of forming a Union of Lutheran Synods.'
"II. That this Address, under the plea of love, peace, fraternity and unity, assails the General Synod, and passes it under utter con- demnation, as unworthy of confidence or support, and asks us to unite in their proposed effort to organize another General Union, to accomplish the objects which, it is alleged, the General Synod has failed to secure.
"Your Committee propose the following as the judgment and testimony of this Synod in this matter :
"Resolved, I. That this Synod respectfully, but with emphasis, declines to take the desired, or any, part in the proposed move- ment, and solemnly declares that in its view and conviction, it is unjustifiable, schismatic, and fraught with sad consequences to the unity and welfare of our Lutheran Zion, and ought to be dis- countenanced by all who love its peace and desire its prosperity.
"Resolved, 2. That we testify our undiminished confidence in the General Synod, and pledge, against all its opposers and de- famers, our continued endeavors to promote its influence and
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power, already realized as rich in blessings to our beloved Church.
"Resolved, 3. That we appoint a committee of five, whose duty it shall be to act in conjunction with a committee already ap- pointed by the Synod of West Pennsylvania, to issue and circulate a Fraternal Appeal to the Church, in order to counteract the effort made to alienate the churches and synods of the General Synod from that body, and unite them in this intended new organization.
"Resolved, 4. That we earnestly entreat the Synod of Pennsyl- vania to desist from the movement they propose in their Address, as replete with the most unhappy results of discord, strife and division to the Church, and injury to the cause of Christ.
" M. VALENTINE, E. S. JOHNSTON, A. R. HORNE, J. F. McLAIN."
Adopted.
In 1867 the Pennsylvania Synod refused to receive our dele- gate to that body and sent to our Synod a communication on that subject. The Committee to whom this was referred reported that it was "a certified copy of the action taken by the German Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, in refusing to receive the delegate to that body appointed by this Synod at its last session, and in refusing to 'continue cordial relations and brotherly communion ' with this Synod.
" The grounds upon which the Ministerium bases this action are : First,-the opinion expressed by our Synod at its last meet- ing, in regard to the character and probable influence of the Ad- dress issued by said Ministerium, inviting ‘ All Evangelical Luth- eran Synods, Ministers and Congregations in the United States and Canadas, which confess the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, to unite with them in a convention for the purpose of forming a Union of Lutheran Synods,' and, Secondly,-The ' Fraternal Ap- peal ' issued conjointly by this Synod and that of West Pennsyl- vania, ' in order to counteract the effort made to alienate the
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EAST PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD.
Churches and Synods of the General Synod from that body, and unite them in this new organization.'
" The Ministerium, after rejecting our delegate and sundering the bonds of fraternal intercourse between itself and the Synods of West and East Pennsylvania, 'respectfully requests these Synods to review the principles of their action, so that it may be ascertained whether they may not be able in this emergency to pursue some course which, by the blessing of the Lord, may be in like manner just to us [the Ministerium] and honorable to them- selves.'
"In reply to which the Committee propose the adoption of the following preamble and resolutions :
" Whereas, We are thoroughly convinced that our judgment of the character and tendency of the aforesaid Address of the Min- isterium of Pennsylvania was correct at the time it was delivered ; and
"Whereas, Subsequent events have furnished unmistak- able and lamentable evidence that those who issued it are fully resolved to run the plowshare of division and disorganization, if possible, through all our synods and congregations ; therefore,
"Resolved, That we see no cause for modifying the judgment aforesaid, or for regretting the affectionate warning addressed by us to our churches ; further,
"Resolved, That, as the Ministerium of Pennsylvania has seen fit to sunder the bonds of union between us, no just and honor- able course remains for us to pursue but to accept the issue thus forced upon us, and stand upon the defensive-maintaining a consistent adherence to the faith and principles we have long professed and practised, and praying that those who have as- sumed this hostile attitude may, sooner or later, acknowledge their error and approach us with such proofs of their sorrow for the harm they have done, that we may be able, consistently with self-respect and a due regard for ecclesiastical order, and for the real welfare of our beloved Zion, once more to extend to them the hand of synodical fellowship.
S. SENTMAN, CHARLES A. HAY, CHARLES KUGLER."
Regretting that I could not with greater brevity present a suf-
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ficiently accurate account of the relations originally existing and subsequently developed between the Pennsylvania Synod and our own, I now hasten to make a very few statements concerning the attitude sustained by our Synod toward some of the leading issues that have interested our churches since our organization.
SECESSION OF THE SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE.
This Conference, composed of the ministers and churches in the northern part of the territory occupied by this Synod, was from the time of its organization distinguished for its zeal and active efficiency in all manner of church work. In 1867 it peti- tioned to be dismissed from our body for the purpose of organiz- ing an independent Synod in that part of the State. The Synod " affectionately, yet most earnestly, requested those brethren to withdraw their application for the present," but, as they urged their plea with increasing earnestness, the Synod reluctantly granted their request. In 1871 the East Pennsylvania Synod " kindly and affectionately invited the Susquehanna Synod to re- turn to this body ;" to which the Susquehanna brethren responded in 1872 :
Resolved, That we reciprocate the regard of the Synod of East Pennsylvania, but do not think that the time has yet arrived when it would be advisable for us to seek a re-union with it."
THE MINISTERIUM QUESTION.
In 1870 the East Pennsylvania Synod appointed a committee to report a year later on the propriety of dispensing in future with all ministerial sessions, i. e., meetings composed of ministers alone, some of the clerical brethren holding the opinion that the lay representatives of the churches should be allowed to take part in all ecclesiastical business. This matter was subsequently referred to the General Synod, which, at its meeting in Baltimore in 1875, adopted a form of Constitution for District Synods, in
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which provision is made in Article VIII. for the holding of meet- ings by ministers alone, by such Synods as may desire to con- tinue the custom long prevalent in our country ; but it specifies also in Article VIII., Section 14, that "in all cases where District Synods have not made provision for a Ministerium, all the powers and duties prescribed in this article shall devolve on the Synod."
LICENSURE.
This Synod has been much exercised on the subject of the induction of men into the holy office of the ministry. At its meeting in Hughesville, in 1856, it declined "to make any change in our method of inducting men into the ministerial office"; i. e., it determined to continue licensing them by a vote of the Ministerium to perform all ministerial acts. The Synod thus, at that time, still entrusted the ministers alone with the responsibility of deciding who should be admitted to the holy office ; that is, it regarded them as constituting a strictly self- perpetuating order of men. During the progress of the meeting at Lancaster, in 1892, however, at which time the above account of its past history was presented, the Synodical Constitution was carefully revised, and it was materially improved in this respect, by the adoption of the principle that the Synod is to decide upon the final ordination of applicants, thus entitling the lay element of the body to take part in deciding who shall become a minister.
BENEFICIARY EDUCATION.
The East Pennsylvania Synod has always taken a deep interest in this cause. It has aided several hundred young men in their preparation for the ministry. It had eighteen on its funds at the time of the withdrawal of the Susquehanna Conference, and it faithfully met its obligation to them, despite the loss of the sup- plies it had before received from the churches that had thus seceded. It expended during that year for this cause $3,625.29.
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It is, of all the Synods, most punctual in the payment, at regu- lar intervals during the year, of its voluntarily assumed dues to the students. The young men gratefully appreciate this treat- ment on the part of the Synod, as it practically adds much to the value of what is advanced to them. They are in the habit of calling it the Banner Synod.
PASTORS' FUND.
There is quite a history connected with the relation of our Synod to this department of church work. The Synod has always disapproved of the mutual-beneficial principle in the matter of relief for disabled or superannuated ministers, their widows and orphans ; and it has always acted on the principle that the duty of caring for such cases rested upon the whole Church and not upon the clergy alone. Accordingly, it has habitually appealed to the churches to contribute annually for this purpose ; and the biennial reports of the trustees of the General Synod's Pastors' Fund prove that this Synod has often given more for this purpose than all the other Synods combined.
THE LUTHERAN PUBLICATION BOARD
had its origin, practically, in this Synod. The original proposi- tion for the establishment of a Translation and Publication Soci- ety came from what was then the Susquehanna Conference, and the committee appointed by the Synod to report upon it, whilst regarding its immediate establishment as inexpedient and un- necessary, yet proposed the calling of a convention " to consider the propriety of establishing some organization by which the mind of the Church can be more especially awakened on this subject." Such a convention was held in Germantown in 1855, concerning which a committee consisting of Messrs. Hutter, Stork and Albert reported to our Synod at Lebanon in that year, that " it was attended by a number of clergymen and laymen belong-
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ing to this and other Synods ; that at this convention the initia- tory steps were taken for the organization of such a society, etc. ; " and the Synod
"Resolved, That, regarding this Society as the offspring of this Synod, begun and prosecuted under its auspices, we cherish a parental interest in its welfare and success, and will rejoice in any evidence we may perceive of its advancement and growth to a more mature and vigorous degree of Christian usefulness."
This institution, at first a beneficiary of the Church, barely kept alive by the contributions of our people, has steadily grown (under the gratuitous and skilful management of its wise directors and under its present energetic and efficient Superintendent, Henry S. Boner), until it has become a liberal contributor to all the leading benevolent operations of the Church. In its report to the last General Synod its financial strength is given as $100,000.
EMMAUS AND TRESSLER ORPHANS' HOMES.
In these institutions, also, the East Pennsylvania Synod has al- ways shown a deep interest. It acted in harmony with the Penn- sylvania Ministerium and the West Pennsylvania Synod many years ago in urging the trustees of the Fry Estate at Middletown to make a direct application of the revenues of that estate to the purposes intended by the founder of the Emmaus Orphans' Home, and it now has the satisfaction of beholding the salutary effects of its efforts in the enlarged and beneficent operations of that in- stitution.
One of the oldest and still living ministers of Synod, Rev. P. Willard, through whose agency the Tressler property was pur- chased and soldiers' orphans secured, was for many years the ac- tive and efficient Superintendent of the Tressler Orphans' Home ; and it is mainly owing to his self-denying and laborious exertions that that institution for many years bore the well-earned reputa- tion of being the most admirably conducted Soldier's Orphans'
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Home in the State of Pennsylvania. Now that the policy of the State authorities has made it necessary for the soldiers' orphans to be concentrated in a few institutions especially intended for them, our Church-orphans have become entirely dependent upon the charitable gifts of our own people, and we may confidently trust that there will be no lack of sympathy or of benevolent ef- fort for them on the part of our Synod.
WOMEN'S HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
This Synod cordially responded to the action of the General Synod at its session in Carthage, Ill., in 1877, recommending the establishment of separate missionary societies by the women of our churches. Fifty-five of such associations exist upon our territory, banded together in a "Synodical Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society," the proceedings of the annual meet- ings of which will hereafter be regularly printed in connection with our minutes.
HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES.
In the minutes of 1854 we find a committee reporting upon the proceedings of the Susquehanna Conference, which it highly eu- logizes, as " being animated by a spirit of activity and enterprise, which makes it an example well worthy of the imitation of all similar bodies, not only in our own Synod, but in the whole Church." Among other praiseworthy doings of that Conference it enumerates " a plan which the brethren have devised for preserv- ing the history of our Church, the main feature of which is, that each pastor within the bounds of Conference prepare a concise and faithful history of the church or churches under his care, for preservation in the library of the Historical Society of our Church at Gettysburg." The Synod cordially approved of this plan, and earnestly recommended to all its pastors the prompt preparation of such sketches. Some of the brethren cheerfully heeded this
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recommendation, and these sketches, in print or in manuscript, are now carefully preserved in the library of the Lutheran Histori- cal Society. It is earnestly desired and hoped that this semi- centennial year of our existence as a Synod will not be suffered to pass by without witnessing the fulfilment of the request, reiterated by our Synod at its last session, viz,, that all our ministerial brethren prepare brief histories of their churches for permanent preservation in the library of our Historical Society.
SYNODICAL MEETINGS AND OFFICERS.
The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of East Pennsylvania was organized at Lancaster, Pa., May 2, 1842. Its founders were Rev. Messrs. F. Ruthrauff, J. Ruthrauff, W. M. Reynolds, 1). D., G. Heilig, F. R. Anspach, D. D., J. Willox, T. Stork, D. D., J. T. Vogel- bach, W. G. Laitzle, and Mr. J. L. Frederick and Gen. G. Hartman. The Synod was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, approved February 11, 1847.
No.
Year .. . .
PLACE.
PRESIDENT.
SECRETARY.
TREASURER.
I |1842 Pikeland. .
Rev. F. Ruthrauff .
. Rev. T. Stork, D. D.
Rev. F. R. Anspach, D. D.
2 1843 Philadelphia
Rev. J. P. Schindel. .
Rev. T. Stork, D. D. .
Rev. F. R. Anspach, D. D.
3 1844 Reading .
Rev. J. P. Schindel. .
Rev. J. L. Schock, D. D.
. Rev. J. Ruthrauff.
4 1845 Lebanon.
Rev. J. P. Schindel.
Rev. J. L. Schock, D. D.
Rev. J. Ruthrauff.
5 1846 Milton . .
Rev. J. Ruthrauff.
Rev. G. Diehl, D. D ..
· Rev. A. Wieting.
6 1847 Germantown
.
Rev. J. Ruthrauff .
. Rev. G. Diehl, D. D.
. Rev. A. Wieting.
7 1848 Selinsgrove
Rev. J. Ruthrauff .
Rev. G. Diehl, D. D ..
. Rev. A. Wieting.
8 1849 Reading. .
Rev. T. Stork, D. D.
Rev. J. McCron, D. D.
· Rev. W. F. Eyster.
9 1850 Easton
Rev. T. Stork, D. D.
Rev. J. McCron, D. D.
Rev. W. F. Eyster.
IO 1851 Danville. . Rev. T. Stork, D. D.
Rev. J. Winecoff ..
Rev. P. Willard.
II | 1852 Pottsville
. |Rev. J. A. Brown, D. D. .
. Rev. J. J. Reimensnyder .
. Rev. A. C. Wedekind, D. D.
12 1853 Philadelphia .
Rev. J. A. Brown, D. D. .
. Rev. J. J. Reimensnyder . ..
. Rev. A. C. Wedekind, D. D.
13 1854 Lewisburg . . . Rev. J. A. Brown, D. D.
. Rev. B. Sadtler, D. D .. . Rev. A. C. Wedekind, D. D.
Rev. B. Sadtler, D. D. . Rev. E. W. Hutter, D. D.
15 1856 Hughesville. .
Rev. G. Parson, D. D.
Rev. D. Steck, D. D. .
Rev. E. W. Hutter, D. D.
16 1857 Lancaster
Rev. G. Parson, D. D. .
Rev. D. Steck, D. D.
. Rev. E. W. Hutter, D. D.
17 1858 Bloomsburg ..
Rev. E. W. Hutter, D. D.
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