# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1949 10 25_S359
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

359

displayed any more. Buyers can buy it only by sending in special orders.

The windows of the publishing house in which the book was printed were smashed by "Catholic stones."

American freedom and Catholic power! We certainly still have cause to celebrate the Reformation festival.
J. T. M.

The Position of the United Ev. Luth. Church in Germany toward the Evangelical Church in Germany. Much has been written on this subject. We bring on it a few sentences from an evening lecture which Lic. Ernst Kinder, professor of systematic theology in Neuendettelsau and editor of the "Ev.-Luth. Kirchenzeitung," gave at the theologians' conference in Bad Boll on June 17 of this year. Among other things he says:

"The position of the VELKD within the EKD is that of a church within a federation of churches (underlined in the original). According to the unambiguous definition of its first article, the EKD is a federation of churches, not a church! Also according to the individual provisions of the basic constitution, spiritual functions of a church and of a church government do not belong to it (underlined in the original). For years we have watched very closely and wrestled over this very earnestly and intensively. . . . The objections of the Lutherans have almost always been yielded to.

"But there is the hope — and the development of the relation between VELKD and EKD so far has confirmed it — that the VELKD will form the spiritual leadership and the spiritual center of gravity for the EKD, and that in time much more will follow out of this. In the EKD there is at present a great harvest field, and the VELKD is proving itself the strongest force in it.

"Certainly this way of the VELKD is not free from dangers. We are very well aware of them, and we must be on guard against them daily. . . . Not before service and struggle, but in service and battle the strength of our confession and our faithfulness to it will have to prove itself.

"At present everything in German Protestantism is still fermenting and coming into being. The territorial-church condition is being more and more overcome. But it cannot yet be foreseen with certainty where things are going. Here the conscious German Lutheranism that is faithful to its confession is called. It must become evident whether it is really on the scene. . . . The Lutheran Church in Germany is at present facing a great hour. Will it recognize it and do justice to it in the true sense — or will it fail?"
J. T. M.

Behind the "Iron Curtain"

We may well say that the members of our Missouri Synod have contributed at least $20,000,000 in money and money's worth toward relieving the great need caused by the last war. Thereby not only were thousands of poor people — men, women, and children — helped in their bodily need, but also, through the support of church work, their souls' salvation was cared for, so that the will to live returned to them, their hearts were filled with new hope, and above all faith in their God and Savior was awakened or strengthened. Now it is only human that the constant cry of distress for help, which in the terrible winter months of the years '45 and '46 moved us to give abundantly, with time leaves us somewhat cold in its urgency. Toward the laments of people, of the hungry and the homeless, our feelings have now become somewhat blunted; we have become somewhat insensible.

It is true, to be sure, that in the American, French, and British zones of Germany the situation has improved somewhat. But behind the "Iron Curtain," that is, in the Russian zone, the need will be just as great this winter too as in the winter months of the years '45 and '46. What is needed most is clothing. Therefore the earnest request herewith goes out to our Christians that they search their houses without delay from attic to cellar for cast-off but still usable clothes and shoes. We would suggest that every congregation even set a collection day for this.

People who live west of the Mississippi River are asked to send their parcels to the following address:

THE EMERGENCY PLANNING COUNCIL
c/o Church World Service
510 S. Elm St., Webster Groves 19, Mo.

Those who live east of the Mississippi River, to the following address:

THE EMERGENCY PLANNING COUNCIL
c/o Church World Service
214 E. 21st St., New York, N. Y.

But send only such clothes as are still usable and protect against the cold. Children's shoes especially are also wanted; also women's shoes, but not those with high heels or those that are open in front so that the toes stick out.

Although we do not advise against sending food, we do point out that with the money spent for it a larger supply of such food could be bought in Europe, and that it would be better to send the money to our Emergency Planning Council, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis 18, Mo., with the notation that it is intended for the relief of the distress in Europe (relief).

Some weeks ago representatives of our Synod who were in Europe during the past summer and met with Lutheran pastors there in conferences and otherwise gathered with our Emergency Planning Council and asked us that our Synod continue its relief work. And so the following resolutions were promptly adopted by our Emergency Planning Council:

1. that $75,000 be granted for the purchase of food for children in the Russian zone;
2. that $30,000 be set aside for the relief of distress in our refugee camps;
3. that $75,000 be granted for the purchase of cellulose, so that paper can be made from it for the printing of Bibles, hymnals, and catechisms in the Russian zone;
4. that $20,000 be granted, with which the Saxon and the Breslau Free Churches, which stand in fellowship of faith with us, can be helped in rebuilding their destroyed churches. These funds are not to be given outright but only ad-