# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1933 ff. masthead not in scan _S377
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

377

German soil, will spread in all directions and in decades will embrace many countries in which the foundations for it are already given. National Socialism will become a world religion; for religion it is unconditionally; faith, love, hope are among its basic lines too. [?] We are only sorry that we did not belong to the fortunate very first fighters who, at great personal sacrifice, got the wheel rolling."

Such thoughts give one pause and fill those who follow the course of events in church and world attentively with serious concern.
L. F.

The Luther Celebration in Detroit.

The four hundred fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Luther was celebrated jointly by the Lutheran congregations of the Synodical Conference in and near Detroit on Sunday afternoon, October 8. Some 16,000 people were assembled. "Perhaps never," says one reporter, "have so many Detroiters united under one roof for a common worship service." "The mighty Olympia Hall, which otherwise serves sport and where otherwise crowds of people shout themselves hoarse at a prize fight, was this time transformed into a mighty cathedral." So another newspaper writer reports.

A chief part of the Lutheran worship service is congregational singing. On this occasion this mighty congregation sang only Luther hymns. A festival congregation also includes a choir. Under the able direction of Teacher Eduard Oßkos, the mass choir and children's choir presented fitting songs. Not a mere recitation, but a well-prepared and impressive, genuine confession of the three articles of the Christian faith, together with Luther's explanation of them, took place on the part of a throng of more than 3,000 children under the direction of School Superintendent S. J. Roth, with the powerful conclusion: "This is most certainly true." According to one reporter, this confession was the high point of the celebration.

Luther was given his due: not what God did to Luther, but what he did through Luther. A chief part of the celebration was that from specially erected towers "The Voice of Luther" sounded forth on the part of Pastors F. A. Hertwig and Edw. H. Buchheimer, proclaiming Luther's life and Luther's words. Addresses were given by Prof. Walter A. Maier of St. Louis and P. Emil Voß of Saginaw. The latter spoke in Luther's language.

The whole festivity, in a public hall, nevertheless had a truly churchly celebration in view. Upon entering, the eye fell at once on two mighty towers and on the inscription "A mighty fortress is our God." In a circle rising all around, as well as in a second balcony, not visible in the accompanying picture, the crowd, for the most part Lutheran, was assembled.

A special commemorative medal in a beautiful silver gray had been struck as a keepsake. The front shows a likeness of Luther in relief with a fitting inscription. The back bears Luther's coat of arms and the words "Lutheran Churches of Detroit."

At a proper Luther celebration, Lutherans remember with a humble, truly thankful heart what God has done through Luther. Luther himself says: "Martin Luther is nothing. It is the Gospel. God stands at the door. Blessed are we, if we open to him. He greets us. Blessed is he who answers him. Buy, because the market is at the door. Gather in, because the sun is shining and the weather is good. Use God's grace and Word, because it is here. Therefore grasp it, whoever can grasp and hold. Idle hands must have a bad year."
Adam Fahling.

On Church Affairs.

From Our Synod.

Our Periodicals. What can happen in the circulation of our periodicals when one takes the matter up in earnest shows itself again and again.

There is a small congregation in Illinois. It numbers 85 communicant members in all. In its mimeographed little congregational paper, which offers no competition whatever to our synodical papers, because it confines itself exclusively to congregational affairs, we read the following from the quarterly congregational meeting in October: "It was again resolved that the congregation have the Lutheran Witness or the 'Lutheraner' sent to every home. A short explanation may be in place, however. Some of our members who were not at the congregational meeting perhaps do not consider for what purpose and with what understanding these periodicals are sent by our congregation to every home. First, all subscriptions are paid out of the congregation's treasury; but we hope and expect that those who are able to do so and who like to read the church paper will put the amount back into the congregation's treasury ($1.25 a year). At the meeting the following reasons were given why these church periodicals should be brought into every home in this way: 1. We show true brotherly love thereby, in that we bring them into such families as cannot pay for them, and offer them Christian reading matter. 2. Thereby we bring into the homes of those who would not otherwise order them Christian reading matter, which will serve to counter the harmful and dangerous influence of present-day secular periodicals. 3. Thereby we keep our members informed about the work and the needs of the Church and in this way create holy zeal and proper interest for the kingdom of God. 4. It is a work well-pleasing to God." And then reference is made to President Pfotenhauer's article in the "Lutheraner," No. 21, p. 343.
L. F.

Interest in Missions. From the most varied regions of our Synod come reports of increased interest in missions and of zealous mission endeavors. At synods, at visitation circle meetings, at conferences, and at congregational meetings the matter has been brought up. As one example we present the resolutions which the Teachers' Conference of our Western District adopted at its last meeting:

"Since the LORD has entrusted to us the glorious means by which his kingdom is extended, and has given us the command: 'Go ye and teach all nations'; since we live in a time when indifference, lukewarmness, lack of interest, and ingratitude are increasing and there is great danger that we are making retreats in the mission; since there are still millions of people who live on in spiritual darkness and distress, while a large number of candidates from our preachers' and teachers' seminaries stand idle in the marketplace, waiting to be sent out: therefore we, and indeed every member of this conference, resolve to examine ourselves earnestly and, with God's help, to seek to determine how far we are responsible for the existence of the present conditions, and through humbling and repentance before him who is the supreme Head and the strength of all true mission endeavors, to open our hearts for a greater measure of wisdom and for new strength and new zeal in the mission. We further resolve to pursue a more zealous study of mission work with the pupils entrusted to us, so that they may be instructed about the work of the mission in a more systematic way than heretofore. And such study shall be combined with participation on the part of our pupils in such mission activity and with personal mission work among