# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1949 08 30_S291
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

291

German families for divine services. They came as far as ten miles. That is not very far, someone says. True, not today. But at that time there were no good highways, automobiles and airplanes; instead, people traveled the distance slowly by ox cart. Some set out already on Saturday evening in order to be able to attend the divine service on Sunday. Later, when a congregation had now been organized, a woman walked half a mile on crutches to the divine service. Let us take an example from that. Today the congregation numbers 669 baptized and 467 communicant members. In the Bible class for adults more than 100 people are present on the average. Many among us might well take an example from that too! — In Grafton, N. Dak., Mr. Neil Maxwell, the financial secretary of the congregation, uses his free time to help with the building of the new church. He even left a porch on his own house half finished so that the building of the church and of a parish hall might be completed as soon as possible. Let us take an example from that too! — In Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Elizabeth K. Dau, widow of the late Dr. W. H. T. Dau, has built a church for St. Paul's congregation. In our large Synod we have many well-to-do people in the cities and in the country who by giving larger sums of money could do much good in the Church. For example, a number of chapels ought to be built in Japan now. — The costs caused by all kinds of crime (crime) in our country in the year 1948 amounted to $15,000,000,000, while $5,200,000,000 was spent on education. But one must not draw the conclusion that if more had been spent on education there would have been less crime. That depends entirely on what kind of education is given. It is a fact that the education of our American youth is for the most part not a Christian one. — The September number of This Day, the new family magazine of our Synod, has now appeared. The orders are numerous, and its circulation is therefore brisk. Surely every family in our Synod ought to want to read this magazine. — Miss Betty Rose Wulf, Humboldt, Kans., will teach world history, English, and economics in a high school for girls in Vadakangulam, India. In India there are 250 different languages and dialects. — In the year 1948 our Synod spent almost $600,000 for the support of 454 retired and sick pastors and teachers, 600 widows, and 20 orphans. — A number of questions were put to 18,500 pupils in our public high schools in order to test their knowledge of Scripture. The result: 10,000 did not know the names of three disciples of Jesus; 16,000 could not name three Old Testament prophets; to 12,000 the writers of the four Gospels were unknown.

In the North African city of Bengasi, where some 1,500 former German prisoners of war are employed as civilian workers, about 400 Germans have on their own initiative founded an evangelical German congregation, which is to be supported from the homeland with hymnals and church papers. In addition, the sending of a clergyman is being considered.
"Gemeindebote"

Church Chronicle

A First Fruit. A first fruit of our seminary Instituto Concordia de Mexico is Juan M. Ibarra, who on August 7 was commissioned as a missionary in St. Stephen's Church in St. Louis. Assistant Mission Director H. A. Mayer preached the sermon on the basis of Is. 1, 6-10.

In the thirties Mr. Ibarra came to St. Louis to study electrochemistry. When he became acquainted with the late Rev. R. Jargo, he was instructed by him in the teachings of our Church from God's Word and confirmed in St. Stephen's Church. In the year 1944, after he had married Miss Wilma Gerling, he returned to Mexico to engage in business there. But the thought of serving the Lord in the holy ministry led him to Monterrey, to our seminary there, where in June he was given his certificate of graduation. He will serve as a missionary in Torreon, Mexico.
J. H. C. F.

Something More about Bad Boll. We have already written a longer article about this year's meetings in Bad Boll, but we wish in these "Chronicle" columns to add some things that seem important to us.

If in our article we spoke of the great unity in doctrine which came to expression at Bad Boll, this is certainly no exaggeration. God has so directed it that in the last heavy years of trial, if not already before that since the First World War, many theological professors and pastors have returned to the study of Luther, of Scripture, and of the Lutheran Confession, have by God's grace let the old liberalism go, and have gained courage and joy for a new, pure confession of the Christian truth. If we think, for example, of the altogether splendid papers of such professors as Köberle in Tübingen, Schlink in Heidelberg, and many others, we certainly have every reason to thank God that He once more lets the light of His Word shine in Germany in these gloomy days.

The unity, to be sure, is not complete. Some theologians who otherwise stand right could not, for example, bring themselves to accept the doctrines of the inspiration of Scripture and of altar fellowship as these are defended by us on the basis of the Word of God. Nor is it yet given to all simply and plainly to take the truths of Scripture from God's Word and to present them in a truly plain, Biblical way. This too must not be forgotten, that at Bad Boll there were not, say, any outspokenly liberal theologians, as for example Bultmann in Marburg, but only such as, to use the expression, "stood positive," and therefore also reject liberalism with us.

But we may report with joy that the German theologians listened to God's Word with reverence and heard our testimony with hearty interest, and in the end also wished to know themselves one with us in esteem for the divine truth.

Many participants also declared in private conversation that they were altogether one with us on all points, and so their wish deserves a hearing that the conferences in Bad Boll be continued. Germany is now hearing the Word of God anew, and if we could help the land of the Reformation to see that the pure divine Word again everywhere pre-