Full Text for CTM Theological Observer 6-2 (Text)

mnurnrbtu mqrnlngiral :Snut111y Continuing LEHRE UND WEHRE MAGAZIN FUER EV.-LUTH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. VI February, 1935 No.2 CONTENTS Page Foreword. (Concluded.) Thea. Laetsch. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 81 Zur :Bedeutung der Taufe Jesu. J. T. Mueller. • • • • • • • • • • • • 93 A Comparison of the King James and the Douay Version. Geo. A. W. Vogel •••••••••• 102 "Die Schrift kann nicht gebrochen werden." P. E. Kretzmann. • • • • • • • • •• 114 Der Schriftgrund fuer die Lehre von der satisfactio vicma. P. E. Kretzmann • • • • • • • • •• 121 Dispositionen ueber die altkirchliche Evangelienreihe.... 125 Miscellanea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 133 T.l:teological Observer. - Kirchlich.Zeitgeschichtliches. . . .. 141 :Book Review. - Literatur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 153 Etn Predlger MUSS Dieht anetn 1DridM>, alao da&s er die Schafe unterweise, wie sle rechte ChrIaten soDen satn, BOndeI'D aueh daneben den Woelfen fDelinm, da.sa ale die Schate nleht uagreilen and mit falseher Lehre vertnehren and Irrtum e!n. fuehren. - Luther. Es 1st bin Ding, daa die Leute mehr bel der Klrche bebaelt denn die lUte Predigt. - ApologU, .Arl. !~. If the trumpet give an unceriatn BOund, who shall preps re himael1 to the battle f J Cor. J.6, 8. Published for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLISHING EOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. Theological Observer. - .reircf)Hcf)"3eitgefc!)1cf)tnc!)es. 141 Theological Observer. - ~irdJndj"8eitgefdjidjtIiffje~. I. 2lmcrikll. The American Lutheran Conference and Lutheran Union.- November 14-16, 1934, the American Lutheran Conference held its second biennial convention in an Augustana Synod church in Des Moines, Iowa. The five participating synods were represented by 150 pastors and lay delegates. The report in the Lu,themn, on which we draw, says that the preliminary committee of the convention submitted for adoption the fol- lowing resolutions as the declaration of the American Lutheran Conference ml Fellowship: - "1. The American Lutheran Conference voices its joy over agreement with the United Lutheran Church in America and the Synodical Con- ference so far as official confessions of faith are concerned. "2. vVe rejoice that in official declarations each body concerned op- poses unionism. "3. We rejoice that the respective bodies recognize the evil of societies holding antichristian doctrines and warn against them. "4. The American Lutheran Conference is earnestly desirous of pulpit- 'and altar-fellowship with the United Lutheran Church in America. "5. The American Lutheran Conference is equally desirous of pulpit- ,and altar-fellowship with the Synodical Conference. "6. The American J-,utheran Conference respectfully recommends and urges the selection of committees on fellowship by the respective con- stituent bodies in order to initiate conferences with other Lutheran bodies relative to fellowship and to deal with similar commissions elected by other Lutheran bodies. It shall be within the province of each church-body, if it so decides, to act jointly with other commissions of A. L. C. so appointed. In any case final approval or disapproval of commission or committee recommendations in regard to altar- and pulpit-fellowship rests with each individual church-body as far as they are concerned. "7. The American Lutheran Conference hereby establishes a Commis- sion on Lutheran Cooperative Endeavor, to ascertain in what matters and 'to what extent other Lutheran groups would be willing to cooperate even before complete fellowship is established. "8. In clarification of the meaning of unionism the following state- ments are submitted: - "a. Unionism is well defined in the Minneapolis Theses. Unionism exists 'where the establishment und maintenance of church-fellowship ignores present doctrinal differences or declares them a matter of in- difference.' "b. Unionism is not necessarily implied in every type of joint en- deavor within a community where pastor and congregation may participate. "c. While the chamcter und extent of such community cooperation must in large measure be determined by the local congregation and its 142 Theological Observer. - .!Htc!)lid)~2eH\Jefd)id)md)es. pastor, this guiding principle should be kept in mind, that under no cir- cumstances shall the clear purpose of the Lutlleran Church be obscured. or compromised. In the words of the Washington Declaration, that Church 'is bound in duty and in conscience to maintain its separate idenity as a witness to the truth which it knows; and its members, its ministers, its pulpits, its fonts, and its altars must testify only to that truth.' " After printing these resolutions, the report in the Luth-eran continues: "After considerable discussion the Conference went on record as urging the selection of committees on fellowship to study the possibility of further unification in the Lutheran Church. A resolution adopted asserted that these committees, selected by the respective constituent bodies of the Con- ference, should 'initiate conferences with other Lutheran bodies relative to fellowship, and deal with similar commissions elected by other Lutheran bodies. It shall be within the province of each church-body, if it so de- cided, to act jointly with other commissions of the American Lutheran Conference so appointed. In any case, final approval or disapproval of commission or committee recommendations in regard to altar- and pulpit- fellowship rests with each individual church-body as far as it is con-- cerned.''' From this it is not clear whether or not the resolutions quoted above were adopted. Here there is further evidence that the question of Lutheran union is bulking very large to-day and that the Scripture decla- rations on unity, union, and unionism must again be carefully studied. A. The Luthe'ran Laymen and Lutheran Union. - _~n editorial in a, Lutheran periodical (we choose not to mention names) dealing with the present movement to-wa,rds establishing a Lutheran union bea,rs the' caption "Lutheran La,ymen a,re Becoming Impa,tient" and makes the fol- lawing sta.tements: "The Lutheran la,ymen are demanding to be' hea,rd .. _ ._ The moment church-leaders take. up the que,s,tion af fellowship, they a.re apt to dig up aId controversies, get into hen,ted deba,tes, and thrmv a, wet blanket on the fine spirit of friendliness which is blossoming forth. . . . How can professors and editors, draw up rules and regulations fGr past{)rs' on the firing-line?" Thlllle statements with their implica,tions call for a few rema,rks. 1. If it is true that in certain Lutheran bodiesi the la3'IDen a,re de- manding to be hea,rd and aTe becoming impa,tient with their lea,ders, these bodies are in a, state of most pronounced dis,union. The situa,tion described' by the, statements under discUBsion is tha,t of a, state of inner strife. These bodies should, then, esta.blish harmony in their own midst before a.ttempting to establish ha,rmony within the entire body of Lutherans. 2. If these dissatisfied la,ymen of the va,rious Lutheran bodies, form a, confederacy for the' purpose of putting aver .the union despite the opposition of the "pa,stors, professors, editors, church-leaders," and succeed, they will nat ha,ve brought about a, union, but will ha,ve imposed the s,tate of strife Upon: the whole body. 3. These impa,tient laymen a,re either right or wrong. If they a,re right, the pas,tors and professars, etc.,. a,re wrong. TIm laymen are right, we shall assume. They know tha,t there is no real difference between the Lutheran synods. They know tha,t" while formerly the synods disagreed on the doctrines of inspira,tion, of convers,ion, of election,. etc.,. Theological Observer. - .Rird)lid)=8eitllefd)id)tHd)elJ. 143 these differences now have been removed. Only the pa,stors, professors, etc., ,choose to erea,te strife. The la,ymen a,n~ fighting the Lord's ba.ttle. The pastors are fighting aga,inst the Lord. What then? It is the sa.cred duty ,of the laymen to discipline their pastors. They will not have time to work towa.rds a, general union, Their first duty is to set their pastors right. 4. Let us assume '~ha,t these impa,tient laymen a.n~ wrong. They do not know the true s.itua,tion~ They ha,ve not been informed of certain 'weighty ma,tters of doctrine and pra.ctise. Or if they a,re informed on these rna,tters, they brush them a.side a.s unimportant. Wha,t then? It is the sacred duty of the respective pa.stors to meet their laymen in a, course ·of indoctrina,tion. And if the laymen refuse to bother with ma.tters of .doctrine, they mus,t be dealt with as the case requires,. And if a, pa.stor takes this same' a,ttitude, if he insis,ts that there, nmy be a, God-pleasing "Union in spite of weighty doctrina.l differences, or if he is unable to see the differences.,. he must also be taken to task by his. brother pastors, by lIis visitor, and last, but not least, by his lay brethren. Tha,t is the Lutheran way of deaHng with the'se matters. The Lutheran Church is a doctrina.l Church. She' g,tresse's. the doctrine. And she indoctrina,tes the laymen. She wants her lay members indoctrinated to such a degree as to enable them to correct, if need be, the pastor. 5. As to the, intima,ted state of opposition be,tween the professors, and the, pastors, rema,rks. 1-4 apply ;also here. Besides, we are rather una.cqua-inted with the sta,te of affairs ,existing in those bodies - if there a,re any such- where "the professors .and editors clra,w up rules and regula,tions for pas,tors on the firing-line .. " Down here in Missouriland such a, state, of affairs' does not exist. Nor do our professors and editors have' a, different outlook and spiritual con- stitution from that of the pastors. They are taken from the rankl'! of -the pastors.. ActuaUy, they think a.Iike. Our proiessnrs and editors. a.re not, when inducted into, their new offices, subjected to some proce'Ss which changes their outlook and constitution. 6. "The moment church-leaders take up the question of fellowship, they a,re a,pt to dig up old controversies·, get into hea.ted deba,tes, and throw a, wet blanket on the fine spirit of iriendliness which is blossoming forth." That s.ta-tement is not true. The utterer of it 'will be held a,ccountable for filling the minds of some laymen with suspicion and distrust of the pastors and other church-leaderI'!. The 'well-infmmed laymen should take' him in hand. 7. The movement towa,rds Lutheran union now in progress is. going to try men's souls'. It caUs" on the one hand, for the stalwa,rt, uncompromising a.dherence· to the truth ·of God's Word and the Lutheran Confessions. and, on the other hand, for the exercise' of much Christian forbearance, infinite pa,tience, and dis- ,crimina-ting wisdom. All carnal motives, and passions mus.t be suppressed. 'Casting doubt upon the honesty of the' motives of the men engaged in this business will wreck the movement. And if the movement should eventua,te in a, unioTL which is not hased upon the. unity of doctrine, but is accom- plishccl through clamor and tumult, the blessing of God cannot rest upon it. E. Scientists Oppose Materialism. - A new book has appeared which ·should be of some value in combating the materialism which is now flood- ing our country. The title is The Great Design. It is written "by fourteen ,.eminent scientists," "edited by Frances Mason," and published by the 144 Theological Observer. - .\l:itd)lidH3eitgefd)icl}md)e~. Macmillan Company. Its price is $2.50. Reviewing this book in the Ohris- tian Oentury, N. M. Grier says: "Is there a living intelligence beyond nature, or does the great cosmos run itself, driven by blind forces? ... To the mechanist reality was unknowable, yet was conceived to take the form of a purely mechanical system in which only simple particles were at work in an aimless fashion. Hence no guidance, plan, or design. Everything was contingent, or happened by chance; in the last analysis there was only the survival of the fittest. While we owe to the stimulus of mechanism many scientific discoveries of surpassing importance as re- gards the welfare of humanity, Mind, on the other hand, was not regarded as an entity in itself, for conscious life was conceived merely as the mechanics of the brain 'as seen from the other side.' Thus science had asked and answered its own questions, Whither? and How? but beyond was the inevitable test of Why? before which mechanism has seemed in- adequate to many. Now come fourteen eminent men of science with their evidence as to the purposeful and directing Mind at the back of thc great drama of creation and in further testimony that the discoveries of science strengthen, not weaken, a belief in an infinite Creator." Mr. Grier then describes the position of the physicist who made a contribution to the volume and according to whose researches protons and electrons are trans- formed into photons, that is, radiations of the smallest wave length, which are considered the "fundamental stuff of which the universe is made. They are something more than simple particles; indeed, they can be fully described in the symbolic language of mathematics, and hence behind them and in them are reason and order." The contributing chemist shows that in the "infinite permutations and combinations" of the atoms with which he deals, simple rules and not mere chance, or contingency, are observable. In the same way the astronomer and the geologist set forth the reign of law in their respective spheres. The biologist, too, has to admit that life cannot be explained by any mechanistic theory. The psychologist dwelling on the experiments of Driesch, "a noted German experimental embryol- ogist," likewise holds that every theory which looks upon life as due to machinelike development fails to do justice to patent facts. The con- clusion of all these men is that there is "order, plan, and design in evolu- tion which can never be the result of mere chance." "Nfr. Grier correctly says: "May we not say that, wherever we meet plan and design, in reality we are faced by a spiritual agent 7" - This position of course is still many miles away from the Christian faith, but it constitutes one of the foundation stones on which all religion must rest. A. The Religious, Situation in Me,xico. _. In an illumina,ting a,rticle the Luthemn Standard, in its issue of December 15, 19'34, discusses the struggle which the' idea of religious liberty is experiencing in our neighbor country to the south. It is there pointed out that already in 1857 there wa.s, a, sha,rp clash between the interests of the Roman C'a,tholic hierarchy and those of the patriotic Mexicans who wished to see their country freed from the usurpations of Roman ecclesiasticism. While Mexico is 9'5 per cent. Catholic, it has many citizens who feel tha.t the hiera,rchy has abused its powers, aJJ.d is' in a. high degree responsible for the intellectual and economic impotence, which cha.racterizes a la.rge· pa.rt of the popula,tion. Theological Observer. - ~it~l1cl)'3eitgef~i~tlicl)cg. In 1917, when the constitution wa,s revised, some stern measures we,re re'solved on aga,inst the Ca,tholic Church; it was forbidden "to own real esta,te, church-buildings 01' any other buildings, to' PO'ssess investecl funds or other prodnctiYG property, to maintain co.nvents 0.1' nunneries" to eon- duct prima,ry schools. to' direct 0.1' administer cha,ritable institutions, or to hold religious ceremonies outside of church-buildings." When in 1926 the Mexican Congress passed an enforcement act, many priests of foreign birth had to. lea,ve the country, and much church prO'perty waH corrfisea ted. The StandM'd states tha,t at this time twenty-five thO'usand priests, left their churches in protest - a COlIrse whieh provoked the opposing p~Lrty to be unrelenting in e:>e8cuting its stern clecrees. AccO'rding to the Standard's informant one must not forget that Mexico, at present has a, OnG-paTty gove,rnment, simila.r to that nf Russia" Italy. and Germany,- and that whoever oppo.ses its aetion is considered an enemy O'f the state. This authority ho~ds tha,t, if the Church withdmws entirely from pnliticS' and devotes itself entirely to spiritual a.ctivities, the violent outbreaks of hO'stility against it will cea,se. The Standard concludes' quite well: "Whether a, government with atheistic tendenciesi and a, Church with political aspirations can. walk together remains to be seen." A. A Word from the United Presbyterian Camp. -In the Lutheran recently a few paragraphs were printed that had appeared in the United Presbyterian, issued by the church-body bearing that name, and we think it proper tha,t our readers should see with WM,t venom this Presbyterian jour- nal speaks of the antiunionistic element in the Lutheran Church. "To an outsider it would seem that the difficulties in the way of union among Lutherans are greater than those which exist in the other large PrDtestant families. vvilile doctrinally the Lutheran branches may be close together, in their attitude, outlook, and practises they differ sharply. Some of them are evangelical and socially minded, while others are reactionary and sacramentarian. At least one of the conservative branches maintains a hauteu1- and exclusiveness equal to that of the Roman Catholic Church. It would look as if a gDod deal Df adjustment would be required before this branch could become one with those branches which hold an inclusive rather than an exclusive attitude. "It is significant that, the farther one gets down the scale, the less pronounced is the sentiment for union. The average of all the- little branches is but 55 per cent. Two factors enter into this. One is that a narrDW and intense loyalty is apt to' exist in a little g.roup, which has, a bitter struggle to exist, a IDyalty not to the Kingdom, but to. the 01'- ganizatiDn as such. The other factor is the cramping effect of a narrow horizon. One can confine his thinking and energies within the limits of his little grnup so completely a·s, to" remain in ignO'rance o.f the big prob- lems and issues of the da,y and civiliza,tion in which he lives." This sounds strange, does it not, especially since it comes from a church- body which for many years refused to' affiliate with Dther Presbyterian bodies because it insisted that in the church services not our lovely church hymns, but merely psalms should be used as songs Df praise and that in- strumental music must be barred from church services. A. 10 146 Theological Observer. - mtd)1id)~Seitgeid)id)Hid)e~. John Dewey's "God." - In the Ohristian Oentury Prof. H. N. Wie- man makes the rather startling announcement that Prof. Dewey, the well- known New York philosopher and humanist, believes in "God." Professor Dewey recently published a book entitled A Oommon Faith, and it is, in an appraisal of this book that Professor Wieman makes the statement re- ferred to. "He pronounces non-theistic humanism as futile and mistaken and thus clearly separates himself from that movement with which many have identified him (pp. 53. 54). Above all he declares his knowledge of God and devotion to God." A person might be inclined to use this as the text of a discourse setting forth that in the last analysis atheism is found to be not workable. When OIIe reads, however, how Professor Dewey defines or uescribes the God he believes in, one cannot wax enthusiastic over his declaration. Who is the God that he does homage to? Is it the God who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? No. This is what Professor Wieman says: "We can put Dewey'S idea of God into a single summarizing sentence: God is the activity which connects the ideal with the actual." God not a person, but merely an activity! Can we tUTn to an activity and say "Abba, Father"? Professor Dewey's book may prove that he is groping for the truth, but it likewise furnishes mournful testimony that he is still encom- passed by abysmal darkness. A. Calendar Reform. - This world movement received a strong im- petus on August 29 during a meeting of the Universal Christian Council for Life and Work at Farnoe, Denmark, when the council, under the leadership of Dr. S. Parkes Cadman of America and the Bishop of Chiches- ter of England, adopted a resolution pledging the churches of the world to cooperation for calendar reform and for the stabilization of the date of Easter. The Government and the League of Nations will be urged to proceed with the necessary legislation. The report of a questionnaire sheet to the American clergy of many denominations lists only 1,178 replies. Only 39 replies are credited to Lutheran ministers. There are about 12,000 clergymen listed in the yarious bodies of our Lutheran Church. The per- centage of those interested appeal's so small that it would be folly to base any conclusion upon the figures. That the question of endorsement will come up before the two national conventions in October - United Lu- theran Church and American Lutheran Church - seems certain. News Bulletin, N. L. O. General Evangeline Booth. - In the election which was held to provide a new head for the Salvation Army, Miss Evangeline Booth was chosen. She will soon be sixty-nine years old and, according to the rules of her organization, will have to retire from the position of general after four years. That the Salvation Army leaders elected a woman to be their general and representative is evidence that this body is not faithful to Biblical teachings. Its plea that in this case it merely follows the preach- ing of St. Paul, who has told ns that in Christ "there is neither male nor female," is one of the many instances in which the Scriptures are mis- interpreted and misapplied. Miss Evangeline Booth is a daughter of the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth. A. Theological Observer. - mrcl) lidjingaoe ber Unfjanger ber 1Befenntni?:;, firdje fjat oii3fjer [24. Wobemoer] aUe ~rroartungen uliertroffen." @?:; fjanbeIt fidj ~ier aoer oei mandjen nidjt um Me ®erbftage, llJenig, fieni3 nidji aUi3fdjIieflIidj ober fjauptfiidjIidj. Wnbere @rhliigungen gelien ben ~hli3f djlag. stlie aItfjergeliradjten merfjiiItniff e unb bie barauf 0 erufjenben, tiefeingehluraeften Unfdjauungen madjen ei3 mandjem fo fdjhler, fidj au trennen. lNan fann fidj nidjt bon bem ®ebanfen rOi3madjen, bafl bie mer~ liinbung bon SHrdje unb @itaat bai3 bon ®oit ®ellJonte, bai3 Wormale ift. @io ift jebenfa@ bai3 jilloti bom "firdjIidjen W 0 t redjt" in ber ~drarung ber 1Befenntni?:;ft)nobe au berftefjen. Wnbere hlieDer meinen, bafl ifjr 3eug~ nii3 fiir bie jillafjrfjeit ftiiftiger hlitfen tiinne, hlenn fie bie aUen merliin~ bungen nidjt aerreiflen; fie meinen, um bei3 ®ehliffeni3 lDiUen in ber lReidj?:;~ firdje Meilien au miiffen. Unfere zymge: jillie range hlerben bie gehliflen' fjaf±en @:fjriften stleutf djlanM in ber ffieidji3firdje beroleilien ~ fjat bafjer ben @iinn: jillie lange 1uirb bai3 burdj ®o±tei3 jilloti geoiIbete unD gefdjurfte ®ehliffen ben @:fjriften erlauoen, in ber un i e r ten ffieidj?:;firdje au ber, lileilien? .lNan iri±t ja nidjt bon fjeute aUf morgen au?:; ciner berberoten Sl'irdje aui3; man batf aoer audj nidjt eiu~unbeti ~afjre lang aufefjen, hlie ba?:; 3eugni?:; gegen bie .2uge ungefjiiri berI)ant. 5tre±en alier bie stleutfdjen @:fjriftcn, reformietie unb Iutfjerifdje @:fjri, ften, um be?:; ®elml1cni3 hliHen au?:; ber unietien ffieidj?:;firdje au?:;, fo burfen fie fidj nun audj nidjt in einer unier±en 1Befenntni?:;ft)nobe berlirubern. stlie lReformierien, benen ei3 um ifjr 1Befenninii3 ein ~rnft ift, fiinnen ei3 nidjt tun. mie! lueniger fiinnen ei3 bie ernften .2utI)eraner tun, Me fidj bei3roegen au ifjrem rutfjerifdjen 1Befenninii3 liefennen, hleif fidj giittIidj gelDifl finb, bafl bai3 reformietie 1Befenninii3 fdjrifihlibrig ift. miele 2uiljeraner hleigern fidj barum, fidj mit ber 1Befenninii3ft)nobe au ibentifiaieren. jillai3 follen biefe aUfammen mit benen, Me um bei3 ®ehliffeni3 hliIIen fdjIieflIidj aui3 ber 1Befenntnii3ft)nobe aui3ireten, tun? ~i3 lileilii nidj±i3 ulirig aIi3 bie 1BUbung dner fef± auf ®o±tei3 jilloti unb bern Iutfjerifdjen 1Befenntnii3 f±efjenben zyrei, firdje. @iie miigen ifjre eigene zyreifirdje liUben. stlie ±reuen 2uifjeraner roerben fidj bann fdjon ilufammenfinben. ~ stlie "U. @ . .2. S\'." bom 9. WObem6er lieridjiet, bafl ber zyufjrer unb ffieidji3fanaler bie brei ,I.lanbcso1fdJiife D. Wceifer (1Bat)ern), D. lNarafjreni3 (t>annober) unb D. jillurm (jilliirttem6erg) am 30. Dftolier in allJeiftunbiger Wubiena empfing (ustler ffieidji3liifdjof iuar nidjt baliei, ffiedj±i3hlar±er Dr. ~iiger audj nidjt"), bafl bie 6eiben aogefeJ?ten .2anbei3liifdjiife, lNeifer unb m5urm, hlieber in ifjr 2fmt ein[(efetl± rourben unb bafl "Me lReidji3regierung bie lRedj±i3ungiiItigfei± ber Wationalft)nobe bom Wuguf± mit ifjren ®efeJ?en, aUf benen ber ~inlirllCfi in ?illiirttemlierg 6crufj±, anertannt fjat" (lRunbfdjreilien ber bom 2anbci3liifdjof jillurm 1Beauftragten), unb beriiffentlidjt fielien 3u~ fdjriften an ben lReidji3liifdjof, feinen ffiucHri±t lie±reffenb. stlie 2anbei3~ 150 Theological Observer. - Rttd)Hd).,seitgefd)td)tnd)ell. bifdjiife IDIeifer, )illurm, IDIara~ren~ unb .Banfer (j8re~Iau) ~arten i~m bor: ,,~un milffen ®ie e~ erIeben, bat me ~iidjften ()rgane be~ 6taate~ me bon ~~nen bolIaogene @efetgebung aI~ redjt9unroirffam erfiaren" unb erffiiren: ,,)illir fe~en un~ geniitigt, 6ie auf b~ bringenbfte au bitten, bem 6taat unb ber SNrdje roenigften~ ben SDienft au tun, bat 6ie bie IDIiigIidjfeit filr einen ~euanfang unb eine j8efriebung ber .l'i:irdje burdj ~~ren mildtritt fdjaffen." SDer j8rubet:t:at(j8efenntni~f~nobe; ~rafe~ D . .l'i:odj) "forbert, bat ber gegenlDartige ~n~aber be~ meidj~bifdjof~amt~ unberailgfidj f einen ~rat rUumt". SDer Eut~erifdje mat (IDIeifer, morfitenber) erfiart: "SDer Eut~erifdje mat, au bem :Broed gebiIbet, bem rut~erifdjen j8efenntni~ inner- ~arb ber SD. ~. ~. bie i~m gebil~renbe @ertung au berfdjaffen, fie~t bUrdj bie bon ~~nen geburbete j8efenntni~gefa~rbung cine ±iibHdje @efa~r filr ben j8eftanb ber SD.~.~." SDa~ 6djrei6en ber Uniberfit1i±en an ben meidj~­ bifdjof ift bon 118 ±~eorogifdjen SJodjfdjune~rern unteraeidjnet (bon \>Xn~au~, @irert, 6affe, SDibefiu~, @ogarten, j8runner, SJcim, stittel, )ille~rung ufro.). SDie Eeil'aiger Uniberfit1i±~t~eorogen gingen gefonbert bor. 6ie beriiffent- Iidjien ant 6djroaraen j8rett folgenben \>Xnf djJag : ,,)illir Unteraeidjneten ~aben forgenbe~ sreIegrantm an ben SJCl.J.:n meidj~bif djof geridjiet: ,)illir t~eologi­ fdjen SJodjfdjune~rer bUten inftanbig, bat 6ie ber aerrilttcten unb nadj lSrieben berIangenben SNrdje ben SDienft tun, fofort aurfrcl'autreien. Wudj roir riimj.Jfen um eine roa~r~aft innerIidj geeinte, im mon fte~enbe ~ban­ geIifdje meidj~firdje.'" - IDIan fie~t, bat bieIe beutfdje mrdjenmanner trot alIem unb alIem ben status quo 6ei6e~arten roolIen. (1.) 6ie benfen nidjt baran, ben 6taat bon b'er SHrdje au trennen, fonbern freuen fidj, bat bie "m ei dj ~ regierung" , "bie ~iidjften ()rgane be~ 6 t a ate ~ ", bie fi r dj - r i dj e ,,@efetgebung" einer mebifion unteraogen ~a6en. (2.) SDie in ber SD. ~ . .I'i:. befte~enbe Union folI fortbef±e~en. 6ie fe~en nodj immer nidjt, bat cine ,,1tYa~r~aft inn err i dj gee i n ± e" ~bangeIifdje meidj~firdje, bie Eu±~eraner unb meformierte, ~ofitibe unb Eiberale umfatt, cine Un- miigIidjfcit iff. Unb roir fiinnen un~ abfolut nidjt in ben @ebanfengang be~ Eu±~erifdjen mat~ ~incinfinben: er roilI bem rut~erifdjen j8efenntni~ inner~alli ber ~bangeIifdjen meidj~firdje @ertung berfdjaffen, bamit bie ~bangeIifdje mrdje j8ef±anb ~abe! )illir fielIen un~ bie 6adje fo bor: roenn bie Eut~eraner i~r j8efenntni~ aur @ertung bringen, fo fIiegt hie meidj~- firdje in taufenb 6tilcl'e au~einanber. ~. Convention of the Episcopalians. - When the Episcopalians last October met in Atlantic City for their triennial convention, the opening service was more of a pageant than of an occasion for worship. "More than twenty-five thousand massed in the great Atlantic City Auditorium to watch the procession of bishops and clergy, followed by lay delegates, march to their places, confronting an altar under an enormous canopy,- the press was informed that it was a Byzantine baldachino, - much like that which provided the focus for the Eucharistic Congress of the Roman Catholics held in Chicago a few years ago," so writes the correspondent of the Ohristian Oentury. One main thought in the opening sermon of Bishop Perry strikes one as very sensible, namely, the admonition ad- dressed to his Church to let the composing of their own differences be their chief contribution to church unity. The convention consists of two houses, that of Bishops and that of Deputies. The convention was con- fronted by financial troubles, and it reduced the budget of the National Theological Observer. - StirdjIidj"3eitgefd)id)trid)es. 151 Council by almost four hundred thousand dollars. Of the resolutions adopted, one that deserves special mention is that which permits deacon- esses to marry and which was carried in spite of the opposition of the High-chuTchmen. What disgusts the Bible ChTistian, however, is the provision that deaconesses, if their bishop approves, may now preach, too. As to the question whether bishops might be called from one diocese to another, it was voted that bishops should remain in the see to which they first were elected. When a young clergyman had the daring to state that the Russian Church in its collapse merely reaped what it had sown, two bishops on the following day voiced apologies on behalf of the Church for the criticism of the Russian Orthodox Church. Two events that were given much publicity were the refusal of the convention to drop the name "Protestant" from the denomination's official title and the refusal of the House of Bishops to recognize tIle election of the Rev. John Torok, who had been ordained in an Orthodox Church as suffragan bishop of the Anglo-Catholic diocese of Eau Claire, Wis. The attempt to make the presiding bishop an archbishop amI to elect him for life was not suc- cessful. What is surprising in a conservative body like that of the Epis- copalians is that birth control was approved. A resolution was adopted which reads: "We endorse the efforts now being made to secure for licensed physicians, hospitals, and medical clinics freedom to convey such information as is in accord with the highest principles of eugenics and a more wholesome family life, wherein parenthood may be undertaken with due respect for the health of mothers and the welfare of their children." The great sensation of the convention came ncar the close. A Com- mittee of Ten on National and International Questions presented a report which is described as nltraconservative. vVhen it was presented to the convention, it created so much angry opposition that most of it was rejected and through -the insertion of amendments an altogethcr new document produced. Endeavoring to keep the pendulum at the extreme right, these gentlemen, we are told, had to see it swing to the opposite extreme. The resolutions that finally were adopted declare opposition to all war; they furthermore request our Government to grant con- scientious obje<:tors of any Christian denomination the same' status which the Quakers have enjoyed in the past; they sound a trumpet-blast against the munitions traffic and place the Church on record as favoring social insurance, the right of collective bargaining, and the partnership relation between employer and employees. Thus in the end the advocates of the "social gospel" won another triumph. A. Victories of the Bible_ - The November issue of the Foreign M is- siona1"Y (United Lutheran Church) has a timely interest because of its series of articles telling of the Bihle in the Telugu, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish languages, in whieh the Board is doing its work. One reads with new interest in the Liberian Missions that the English Bible is used there. The Gospel of St. Mark, translated into Kpelle and published by the American Bible Society, is not in common use, we are told, although translations of the Common Service both in Kpelle and Buzi, of Luther's, Small Catechism, and of hymns are in use. - News Bulletin of N. L. C. 152 Theological Observer. - ~h:d)fid),,{leitgefd)id)tlid)e~. Rome and the Scandinavian Countries. - The Lutheran Com- panion places before its readers some statements taken from the Universe, a Roman Catholic journal published in London, England, which are of more than ordinary interest. Speaking of the influence of the Reforma- tion in the Scandinavian countries, this Roman Catholic journal expresses itself as follows: "In an important lecture to the Pius XI Institute in Paris, Pere Bechaux, O. P., who is head of the Dominicans in Norway and Sweden, gave an interesting survey of the Catholic position in Scandinavia. There is probably no part of Europe in which the Reformation was so overwhelming and has prevented any wide-spread Catholic revival for so long. Even in Norway, where the Reformation was enforced less ruth- lessly than in Sweden, conversions to Catholicism were not recognized by law until 1873. At present there are only four thousand Catholics in a popUlation of six millions in Sweden. There are only ten parishes, with twenty-one priests, of whom only two are Swedes. In Norway religious freedom was conceded in 1843, but even there the Church has only three thousand Catholics, with five Norwegians among its forty-two priests. In Finland a Vicariate Apostolic was established in 1920, after the Revo- lution; but there are not yet 1,800 Oatholics, with only four parishes and eight priests, of whom two are Finns. Denmark has very much the largest Catholic population, with twenty-five thousand Catholics (among 3,500,000) and forty missions,- with ninety priests, of whom twenty are Danes. But there is an awakening in all these countries that may make the history of the near future very different." That these countries, just as well as ours, need an awakening may be true enough. But we de- '\Toutly hope that, when it comes, it will not mean a return to Rome. A. Some Statistics on Iceland. - Dr. G. L. Kieffer has compiled some interesting facts on famous Iceland, known as a Lutheran country. Its population at the end of 1932 was 111,555. Its capital, Reykjavik, in 1932 had 30,566 inhabitants. As to education Dr. Kieffer writes: "The elemen- tary instruction is compulsory for a period of five years, the school age being from ten to fourteen years. Before the age of ten children are usually privately educated, at any rate, in the country. In 1928/29 there were 238 elementary schools, with 400 teachers and 8,709 pupils. There ,are also several continuation schools for young people. The population is almost -entirely Icelandic. Illiteracy is negligible." This is the status ,of religion: "The National Church, and the only one endowed by the Istate, is the Evangelical Lutheran. There is complete religious liberty, land no civil disability is attached to those not of the national religion. The affairs of the National Church are under the superintendence of one bisbop. in the census of 1930, 1,503, or 1.4 per cent., were returned as Dissenters. The Adventists in 1920 had 167, the other Protestant churches J25, t'heCatholics 67 members, and 204 did not give any church con- nection. The total of Evangelical Lutherans in 1920 was 94,227; in 1930, 107,358.'-' It seems law and order are observed on that island. "In 1928 there were -34 men and 3 women convicted of crime; in 1929, 30 men and one woman; in 1930, 37 men and one woman." Reading these figures, one must endorse the statement of Dr. Kieffer: "Crime in Iceland is almost negligible ,as compared with the population." A.