Of the Church - By the Church - For the Church Luther League CUBLIC LIBRARY NC TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1934 NOctober the editor addressed a letter the old guards could meet at the next Lu IN to a number of the "old guard" of the Luther League with a request that they send a message of fifty to one hundred words for publication in the REVIEW. A number of years had passed since they were first identified with the Luther League. In the passing of these years many things had happened. Much that had been of great interest to the Church had occurred. The Luther League had contributed its share to the welfare of the Church and today in the Church's work it is an active factor. Replies were received from many, but not all of the "old guard." The following are the replies that have been received: MR. E. AUG. MILLER, Former President of the Luther League of America. While it may not receive the credit to which it is entitled, those of us who have for so many years been of it and in it and have understood its aims and appreciated its longings know for a surety that the Luther League has been a large factor in. the great objective accomplished in New York on November 15th. A favorable atmosphere has much to do with the launching of a new project. MR. C. T. A. ANDERSON, President of the Luther League of America. Since 1895 there have been many matters of interest in our Luther League work. I have been an active member since its organization in Illinois and surely have had pleasant experiences and privileges in State and National Leagues. I recall the very strenuous times we had in Chicago during the conventions of 1896 and 1908. During all these years the Luther League has pushed forward and today there are Leagues in Canada, Porto Rico, Japan and China. It would be an interesting meeting if all ther League convention, in 1920. WILLIAM C. STOEVER, LIT.D. Many things occur to me, but the greatest of all is that the young people of the Church have become interested in the study of the Bible, in the affairs of the Church, in the missionary operations in foreign lands, and so they are contributing each day of their might, both in mind and money, to the advancement of the Church at large. This is as it should be, for, if we are to have a Church in the future, then the young people are the hope of that Church. The tendency of the day is to a greater advancement in Christian learning and in doing good. The one matter which looms before me is the importance of the Luther League in the United Lutheran Church in America. It has contributed more than any one thing, because it has not recognized the differences in the Church, but has simply been ready to do its duty as it presented itself. May the League go on for years to come, doing as it has done, and our Church will be better for its young people and for all their activities. MR. JOHN F. DINKEY, Former Treasurer of the Luther League of America. Sir Mathew Hale, the great jurist, wrote "the wisest thing in the world is time." Looking back over the past history of the Luther League movement I believe the verdict of time will be: That the League has faithfully followed its initial aim of conserving to the Church her young people, a latent force so potent that it has been likened to the mighty energies of Niagara. It has successfully awakened its members to lay hold of their Christian duties in their respective churches as their reasonable service. That by the exercise of brotherly love and kindness it has lowered the wall of separation between brethren and made possible the ideal undivided Lutheran Church. Working along these lines with God's blessing the Luther League will be a right arm of power for the Church in the future as it has been in the past. REV. DR. GEORGE C. F. HAAS, Composer of the tune for the Luther League Rally Hymn. Having been asked as "one of the old guard" to contribute a short message to a symposium on the Luther League, with especial regard to my personal connection with this movement in the past, I will cheerfully do so. As I look back, they are tempi passati, but as the past is the father of the present and the grandfather of the future, a retrospect may not be without advantage. I shall refer briefly to three things, which have impressed themselves on my memory especially in this connection. In the first place, my name, whether deservedly or undeservedly, is perhaps most widely known in Luther League circles as composer of the music of the Luther League Rally Hymn. I have been repeatedly asked: "How did you do it?" Well, I don't know. All I know is, that when a text, like that of the Rally Hymn, appeals to me, the music comes of itself. It just came. Now while I am aware of the fact that musical critics might find a great deal of fault with the composition, and that justly, and while I myself think it might be very much improved upon the chorus is the only part I really like-yet in spite of its imperfections I believe it has done good work; God be thanked for it. In the next instance, I make a claim, the ground of which is not so well known, but which has been justified by the event, of having to a certain extent been a defensor fidei. In the early days of the movement, when many of my colleagues entertained great doubts concerning this stir among the young people of the laity, I took occasion repeatedly to say: "This movement has come to stay, and whoever does not move with it will be left behind." I am happy to note that my prophecy was not a vain one, for I believe that apart from all other wholesome influences that the League has exercised, not little of the spirit that made possible the merger just completed may be traced to the educative and unifying character of the League upon those then in the bloom of youth and now in the leadership of the Church's work.. In the third place, I believe I may aspire to having been to some degree the raiser and bearer of the League's standard. I recall that at some general meeting in New York in the early days, when I was called upon to deliver an address, I referred to the memorable words of Lincoln's speech MR. LOUIS VAN GILLUWE, Tempus fugit, and how it flies. Those of us who organized the Luther League of America in Pittsburgh, years ago, realize this when we look at our photographs of today compared with those of that period. Not a few good Lutheran pastors declared that a union in one body of young people's associations of different synods would not last long. But the National League still lives as an example of the possibility of Lutheran agreement, and as such has no doubt been a large factor in bringing about the merger of the three large general bodies of our church just completed, and let us hope the forerunner of the future American Lutheran Church, which shall unite all Lutherans of whatever synodical connection in one great powerful Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. MR. A. RAYMOND BARD, Former Member of the Executive Committee. The hearts of all those who bore the early burdens of the great Luther League movement rejoice today because of the complete fulfillment of their desires. Without the Luther League there would be no United Lutheran Church in America. But its work is just beginning, not ending. Its next goal must be to bring into this great body all Lutherans who are still outside. In the meantime it will not fail to educate the rising generation as it did the generation that made the merger possible. It must also see to it that our wonderful two hundred thousand soldiers and sailors shall fight for their Church as gloriously and successfully as they fought for their country. MR. GEORGE D. BOSCHEN, Since the inception of the work of the Luther League in 1888 in New York, its influence has been felt in an ever-larger degree in our beloved communion. The fruition of this work came in the memorable historic event which took place in the Metropolis on November 15th, 1918, in the union which made the United Lutheran Church in America a fact, and the further GREETINGS FROM THE OLD GUARD achievement of the election to the presidency of the Rev. Frederick H. Knubel, D. D., one of the original workers in the Luther League movement. REV. GEORGE H. SCHNUR, The words, twenty-fifth year, on the title page of our Topics for this quarter remind us that we are drawing near the end of the first quarter of a century of the Luther League Topics. It was twenty-five years ago this year that one of the enthusiastic friends of the Luther League, the editor-professorpreacher, Dr. H. Louis Baugher, conceived the idea of a Topic periodical which should be educational, doctrinal and spiritual, practical and helpful, withal churchly and Lutheran. It was a new idea in America. His hand prepared the copy for some of the first numbers. He helped elect the first Literary Secretary, Dr. Charles Fry, who edited the Topics for the biennium 18961898. And he selected Rev. George H. Schnur to conduct the first Luther League column in a Lutheran Church paper, the Lutheran World. Could he have lived until today he would have been another happy Luther Leaguer, rejoicing because of the merger. The crisis year of 1918 is passing! How wonderfully have our hopes been fulfilled and our aims been justified! For, in those early days of the Topics we set ourselves the problem of teaching the young people of many synods a Lutheranism which should be generic and positive, historical and churchly, spiritual and practical; a Lutheranism which should not wear the label of any synod. Our prayers and hopes have been partly fulfilled in the wonderful year of 1918, for the synods of the Muhlenberg type, with one exception, are now joined together in "The United Lutheran Church in America." True, the synods of the types of Esbjoern, of Walther, and of Loehe, have seen fit to walk by themselves; yet, their leagues have all grown out of or received their inspiration from the Luther League of America. And the Luther League of America still remains non-synodical, conservative and churchly, progressive and hopeful, a prophecy of the greater union for which we are still hoping and praying. REV. W. L. HUNTON, PH.D. As one who attended the original preliminary meeting as the sole representative of Western New York when on that Washington's Birthday prior to the organization of the first State Luther League a group of men met in the basement of St. John's Church, Albany, N. Y., to discuss ways and means of founding a State organization, it has been my privilege through all these years to feel a vital interest in and follow the development of the Luther League. It has not been possible for me in later years to be as active as formerly, yet I realize fully the possibilities of our young, people's work, and look backward over all these years, fully conscious of the great influence which the Luther League has exerted in moulding and unifying the thought of the Church and making possible the union which has now been effected. The name itself is of special interest to me, as it was my privilege to be chairman of the committee which recommended the name as it was adopted on Memorial Day in Utica, and later accepted by the National League at Pittsburgh. In the opening year with the new possibilities of the United Church our prayer and hope is that the Luther League as such may be able to increase its activities and extend its usefulness beyond the limits of its former effectiveness. MR. FRED H. WEFER. The golden age of the Luther League is in the future, not in the past. Our past experiences can only be used as stepping stones to still greater achievements. And they will be great only by our consecration to the slogan-Of the Church, By the Church and For the Church. MR. FREDERICK L. RATH, Former President of the Brooklyn District League. Looking backward over twenty-five years it is very interesting to me to observe the great christian influence the Luther League has had, especially so in the course of recent events. You know how we looked forward to great possibilities and how God has blessed the early influences is more than can be told. It is easy for some of us to recognize how great success had to come— when we think of the great energy and fine loyal spirit to God that had full possession of our Luther Leaguers, not in isolated sections of our country, but in most every city, town and village that has helped to bring forth such wonderful fruit in our Lutheran Church in America. While the individual Leaguer should be most thankful because of the saving power and the great benefit through contact with such religious influences-the church as a whole has had a power in the Luther League of America that it does not yet fully appreciate. The great joy of Lutheran fellowship that has permeated our lives, our work, our meetings, our conventions, will always serve to keep us strong in our faith and mindful of our original motto "Of the Church, For the Church, By the Church.” May God continue His blessings upon the Luther League of America, for there is still a greater work to be done and feel sure our great Lutheran Church is ready to do it. MR. HORACE W. BIKLE. Years have passed and better years have come since Pittsburgh welcomed the Luther League of America, then in its cradle. That meeting and the recent merger meeting in New York City seemed to me to be little more than a step apart-though a long stride at a slow pace. To my mind the connection between the two hardly could be more intimate. Recall the personelle of the Luther League at that time, together with those who have added themselves to it as the years have passed, and it is easy to recognize that those who there believed and taught it could be done now are here to say it shall be done. Our guiding spirits, avoiding impatience and undue haste, have worked and prayed in the face of seemingly interminable postponements. Then, with a suddenness which may have caused some to lose the sense of continuity, came the consummation devoutly wished. MR. I. S. RUNYON, Of the Executive Committee. A hearty and hopeful New Year greeting. Throughout the Church the league has been credited with giving a message of help toward unity. The REVIEW is the voice through which for years the influence in this direction was working. The primary work of the REVIEW, however, has been to keep the young people informed about the Church and its work and to help the members in their study of the religious subjects presented in the Topics. In this two fold office the REVIEW has been of great service to the League and to the Church. MR. JAMES M. REYNOLDS, Of the Executive Committee. The organization of the United Lutheran Church in America appeals to me as the realization of one of the goals for which the Luther League has ever aimed. Much credit must be given our young people for the work of bringing our people into closer touch and more intimate acquaintance, without which the United Church would have been impossible. To a layman the divisions of our beloved Church have always seemed so deplorable, so wasteful and so detrimental. Now with our forces united the possibilities and duty of our Luther League are greater than ever. We need, as never before, a trained and educated laity. Let us concentrate our efforts to develop this laity to meet the need of our Church today. REV. M. J. BIEBER, Of the Executive Committee. Will you allow me to congratulate the Luther League of America on rounding out almost a quarter of a century (twentythree years) of blessed service in the Lutheran Church? What hath God wrought! From that tiny acorn which was planted as the first stone in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, New York City, in 1888, a mighty oak has grown, rooting deep into the hearts and lives of 100,000 young people and spreading its mighty branches over the continent and the world. Since the Luther League of America took shape in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1895, the Lutheran Church added to its ranks 4,000 ministers, 6,000 congregations, over 1,000,000 communicants, and gave $3,000,000 more for benevolence in 1918 than in 1895. Then she was comparatively a "feeble folk," now she counts her members in every State and Territory. Some of the ablest men in the Lutheran Church have helped to develop her. She did more to train the young people of the confirmation than any other Church agency. She did as much, if not more, to produce the United Lutheran Church of America than any other Church organization. The writer was privileged to attend every national and international convention since 1895 and was instrumental in the organization of the Connecticut, the Canada, and the Nova Scotia Leagues and thus makes the Luther League of America international. The publisher of the REVIEW, the Literature Secretary and many others have been the ever faithful standard bearers in the League's onward and upward march. May she go from strength to strength! May she continue her blessed mission, until the United Lutheran Church in America will embrace every synod and every Lutheran in the Western Hemisphere! Amen. MR. WILLIAM ECK, Former President of New York State League, and President of the Largest League in the World. "If this is of God it will stand. If not it will fall." These were the words spoken by the now sainted Dr. Moldenke at the first convention of the Luther League of America at Pittsburgh. Many had their doubts of the success of the League because it recognized no synodical lines, but who doubts the success of the League today? Surely God has been in the midst of her. I want to congratulate the League on the great work thus far accomplished. By means of the topics and reading courses it has added to the Church a more loyal and (Continued on page 34.) |