anaheim-gazette 1918-06-06

KAISER NOT HEAD OF LUTHERAN CHURCH REV. H. G. SCHMELZER DELIVERS INTERESTING ADDRESS ON "LUTHERANISM VERSUS KAISERISM" DECLARES AMERICAN CHURCH IS ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT OF PRUSSIAN STATE CHURCH An especially interesting memorial service was held at the Lutheran church Thursday evening. An excellent patriotic musical program had been arranged for the occasion, but the chief interest centered in the address of Rev. Schmelzer, pastor of the church, who spoke on "Lutheranism vs. Kaiserism," showing conclusively that the Lutheran church of America has no connection with the Prussian state church, and furthermore that the two are antagonistic. Following is his address in full: Fellow Citizens:— By a special proclamation of the nation's chief executive Memorial Day has been designated as a day of humiliation and prayer. The president has exhorted all God-fearing citizens of this Republic to assemble today in their respective houses of worship, to humble themselves before almighty God, confessing their sins, and offering up supplications for the safety and welfare of the nation, and beseeching Him to grant victory to our arms and paper writers and public speakers throughout the country. And strangest of all, this statement has found credence in wide circles. But what is the truth? The kaiser is not even the head of the Lutheran church of Germany, for the simple reason that such an organization does not exist. The German empire consists of a number of federated states, and in some of these the state churches are called Lutheran, but the kaiser has no ecclesiastical jurisdiction over them. The kaiser is, indeed, the head of the state church of Prussia, but—and I wish to state this with all possible emphasis—the state church of Prussia is not a Lutheran church. It is not even called Lutheran. It is known as the United Church of Prussia. There was a Lutheran church in Prussia once upon a time. But an hundred years ago the Lutheran church and the Reformed church were forcibly united by royal decree. Since then there has never been a Lutheran state church in the kingdom of Prussia. The kaiser is not the head of the Lutheran church. He is not even a member of the Lutheran church, nor is any member of his family. The house of Hohenzollern ceased to be Lutheran three centuries ago. By what method of reasoning, then, can it be argued that Emperor Wilhelm II is the supreme ruler, a Pontifex Maximus of the Lutheran church? Emperor Wilhelm of Germany the head of the Lutheran church of America? It is to laugh. The Lutheran church of America, and more specifically the Lutheran Synodical Conference, of which we are members, has as little to do with the German kaiser as it has with the Khedive of Egypt. The kaiser has about as much jurisdiction over the Lutheran ministers of the United States as he has over the priests of Budda in India. If the kaiser had voluntarily abdicated and made his home in this country four years ago, he could not have become a member, much less the president of the Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America without a very thorough change in his religious views. In the year 1902 Professor Frederick Bente, instructor at the largest Lutheran Seminary in the United States, wrote in one of ourological mag-ing congregations faithful pastors with at every turn institutions only by dintions can prevent Christ, whom they their pastor, from blasphemy when he children. Whoever religious freedom rebel. How happy he ed with the Luther many." Some forty years Stoeckhardt was pardon of the Lutheran Saxony. He found his congregation at was hindered in the ing Christian stand mainly by the law or forced him to receive also unpenitent sin was an offense to unless he had first the church authoritative hardt declared that no circumstances saints which were con-tures, he was immens from office. He thou joined the Lutheran insignificant body o who had separated out the state church. A thor Stoeckhardt cont against the un-Luther State church authorize preachers. Now against him for "re- and the Christian re-sentenced to eight ment, later commute Sentence was never Stoeckhardt accepted gregation in America however had to pay marks for publish articles against the un-Luther practice therian ministers." That the Lutheran o obtained the service greatest theologians many years profess Seminary, St. Louis, grandfathers of several whole-hearted Amer- Fellow Citizens:— By a special proclamation of the nation's chief executive Memorial Day has been designated as a day of humiliation and prayer. The president has exhorted all God-fearing citizens of this Republic to assemble today in their respective houses of worship, to humble themselves before almighty God, confessing their sins, and offering up supplications for the safety and welfare of the nation, and beseeching Him to grant victory to our arms and a lasting peace to the peoples of the earth. The people of the United States are therefore observing this day with unusual solemnity. Heretofore Memorial day has been devoted chiefly to the sacred memories of our loved and honored dead, particularly to the memory of those noble men who fought and died and died to win liberty and independence, and to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives to preserve the unity and integrity of this great Republic. We rejoice today that the heroes of the revolution and the civil war did not die in vain. Through their deeds of valor and scarifice they made this the greatest, noblest, and freest people on the face of the earth. While it is meet that we remember today the great things accomplished by these honored dead, it behooves us also to remind ourselves of our duty towards the living. We have no right to enjoy and glory in the deeds and achievements of our fore-fathers unless we are willing to follow in their footsteps, unless we, too, are ready to sacrifice all to protect, defend and preserve this blood bought heritage of liberty. Once more the sons of this Republic have taken up arms to fight for freedom and justice, prepared to lay down their lives on the altar of patriotism, in order that government of the people, by the people, and for the people may not perish from the earth. And while our sons and brothers are facing the perils of warfare beyond the sea, it is the sacred duty of those who remain at home to provide the means with which to carry on this righteous war, and to pray without ceasing for their welfare and for the success of their arms. There is, however, another patriotic duty, to which I desire to call your attention this evening. It is our duty to foster a spirit of concord, harmony, and unity at home. Why? Because you cannot expect the United States to gain the victory abroad with a divided citizenship at home. United we stand, divided we fall. Every effort, every activity that tends to create diversion, contention or animosity between various groups of American citizens—even though it parade in the garb of patriotism—is, in effect, enemy propaganda, and to expose and pillory such activities becomes a patriotic duty. That such efforts are being made at the present time cannot be doubted. Thus, for example, a systematic as it has with the Kbedive of Egypt. The kaiser has about as much jurisdiction over the Lutheran ministers of the United States as he has over the priests of Budda in India. If the kaiser had voluntarily abdicated and made his home in this country four years ago, he could not have become a member, much less the president of the Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America without a very thorough change in his religious views. In the year 1902 Professor Frederick Bente, instructor at the largest Lutheran Seminary in the United States, wrote in one of our theological magazines: "The German emperor apparently has little regard for moral or religious truth. He employs both for the purpose of retaining and augmenting his power. When he is among infidel theologians, he speaks of the 'evolution of religion'; when among believers, he talks about the 'divinity of Christ.' Both religious and moral truth he subordinates to the summum bonum—Hohenzollernism. It is a bad business." A year later Professor Bente wrote in the same periodical: "Kaiser Wilhelm has a very vague conception regarding Christianity. He has repeatedly honored the infidel theologian Harnack, rewarding his services with signal distinctions, lately with the order—Pour le Merite. Thereby the kaiser has not only deeply grieved Christians, but has proved what an ignorant and confused theologian he is." Question: What would have happened to Professor Bente, high in the councils of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, after making such statements as these, if the kaiser were the head of the Lutheran church of America? Again—Do these utterances smack of German "kultur?" Why, the Lutheran Synod of Missouri has been fighting German "kultur" for three quarters of a century before this war began, ever since the days of its organization. The founders of our Synod came from Germany not in order to find here a better opportunity for accumulating wealth, but because they were persecuted in Germany because they would not tolerate government interference with their sacred rights as Christians. They emigrated to the United States as pilgrim fathers in order to escape the thraldom of the German churches. For conscientious reasons they left their friends and possessions behind them, and came to our hospitable shores in order to serve God as they believed right under the constitution of our country. But has not the kaiser had some connection with the Lutheran church in a political way. When the fathers and founders of our organization came over, they departed from Europe under pressure and persecution. Their very as it has with the Kbedive of Egypt. The kaiser has about as much jurisdiction over the Lutheran ministers of the United States as he has over the priests of Budda in India. If the kaiser had voluntarily abdicated and made his home in this country four years ago, he could not have become a member, much less the president of the Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America without a very thorough change in his religious views. In the year 1902 Professor Frederick Bente, instructor at the largest Lutheran Seminary in the United States, wrote in one of our theological magazines: "The German emperor apparently has little regard for moral or religious truth. He employs both for the purpose of retaining and augmenting his power. When he is among infidel theologians, he speaks of the 'evolution of religion'; when among believers, he talks about the 'divinity of Christ.' Both religious and moral truth he subordinates to the summum bonum—Hohenzollernism. It is a bad business." A year later Professor Bente wrote in the same periodical: "Kaiser Wilhelm has a very vague conception regarding Christianity. He has repeatedly honored the infidel theologian Harnack, rewarding his services with signal distinctions, lately with the order—Pour le Merite. Thereby the kaiser has not only deeply grieved Christians, but has proved what an ignorant and confused theologian he is." Question: What would have happened to Professor Bente, high in the councils of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, after making such statements as these, if the kaiser were the head of the Lutheran church of America? Again—Do these utterances smack of German "kultur?" Why, the Lutheran Synod of Missouri has been fighting German "kultur" for three quarters of a century before this war began, ever since the days of its organization. The founders of our Synod came from Germany not in order to find here a better opportunity for accumulating wealth, but because they were persecuted in Germany because they would not tolerate government interference with their sacred rights as Christians. They emigrated to the United States as pilgrim fathers in order to escape the thraldom of the German churches. For conscientious reasons they left their friends and possessions behind them, and came to our hospitable shores in order to serve God as they believed right under the constitution of our country. But has not the kaiser had some connection with the Lutheran church in a political way. When the fathers and founders of our organization came over, they departed from Europe under pressure and persecution. Their very as it has with the Kbedive of Egypt. The kaiser has about as much jurisdiction over the Lutheran ministers of the United States as he has over the priests of Budda in India. If the kaiser had voluntarily abdicated and made his home in this country four years ago, he could not have become a member, much less the president of the Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America without a very thorough change in his religious views. In the year 1902 Professor Frederick Bente, instructor at the largest Lutheran Seminary in the United States, wrote in one of ourtheological magazines: "The German emperor apparently has little regard for moral or religious truth. He employs both for the purpose of retaining and augmenting his power. When he is among infidel theologians, he speaks of the 'evolution of religion'; when among believers, he talks about the 'divinity of Christ.' Both religious and moral truth he subordinates to the summum bonum—Hohenzollernism. It is a bad business." A year later Professor Bente wrote in the same periodical: "Kaiser Wilhelm has a very vague conception regarding Christianity. He has repeatedly honored the infidel theologian Harnack, rewarding his services with signal distinctions, lately with the order—Pour le Merite. Thereby the kaiser has not only deeply grieved Christians, but has proved what an ignorant and confused theologian he is." Question: What would have happened to Professor Bente, high in the councils of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, after making such statements as these, if the kaiser were the head of the Lutheran church of America? Again—Do these utterances smack of German "kultur?" Why, the Lutheran Synod of Missouri has been fighting German "kultur" for three quarters of a century before this war began, ever since the days of its organization. The founders of our Synod came from Germany not in order to find here a better opportunity for accumulating wealth, but because they were persecuted in Germany because they would not tolerate government interference with their sacred rights as Christians. They emigrated to the United States as pilgrim fathers in order to escape the thraldom of the German churches. For conscientious reasons they left their friends and possessions behind them, and came to our hospitable shores in order to serve God as they believed right under the constitution of our country. But has not the kaiser had some connection with the Lutheran church in a political way. When the fathers and founders of our organization came over, they departed from Europe under pressure and persecution. Their very as it has with the Kbedive of Egypt. The kaiser has about as much jurisdiction over the Lutheran ministers of the United States as he has over the priests of Budda in India. If the kaiser had voluntarily abdicated and made his home in this country four years ago, he could not have become a member, much less the president ofthe Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America without a very thorough change in his religious views. In the year 1902 Professor Frederick Bente, instructor at the largest Lutheran Seminary in the United States, wrote in one of ourtheological magazines: "The German emperor apparently has little regard for moral or religious truth. He employs both forthe purposeof retainingand augmentinghispower.Whenheisamonginfideltheologians,hesisemployedhistheresponsibilitywithsignaldistinctions,Latelywiththeorder—PourleMerite.ThekaiserhasnotonlydeeplygrievedChristians,bbuthasprovidedwhatanignorantandconfusedtheologianheis." Question: What would have happened to Professor Bente, high in the councils ofthe Lutheran Synodof Missouri, after making such statements as these, ifthekaiserweretheheadoftheLutheranchurchofAmericabased solely that, while our valient pioneers owe churchofAmericaGermanytoescapeintheoppositionchurch,thepresentdriftedawayfromhavingfailedtoapponsfortheirpositiestomeaffiliatedwitfluencedby,theGermanWhatistheposititoday?Is there anychangeinitsattitudefactiesthatyoubelieveforsomethingwithoutGermanstoleverhavebeenusedchurchworkinAmteroffact.alltheLutheranchurchoflegesandseminarieschoolsourhomeslionswerefoundeded solely bythefreewrit scrutinizingeyesonSynod'streasurer'stimeofitsorganismpresentdate,yousingleinstancewhotheSynodicalConversionofapennyofGermanAsa ChurchtheLutherAmericaisindependent." and unity at home. Why? Because you cannot expect the United States to gain the victory abroad with a divided citizenship at home. United we stand, divided we fall. Every effort, every activity that tends to create diversion, contention or animosity between various groups of American citizens—even though it parade in the garb of patriotism—is, in effect, enemy propaganda, and to expose and pillory such activities becomes a patriotic duty. That such efforts are being made at the present time cannot be doubted. Thus, for example, a systematic campaign of slander has been carried on during the past months against the Lutheran church of America. Time and again the Lutheran church has been branded as a secret confederate of the German imperial government. Public speakers have gone so far as to assert that the German emperor is the head of the Lutheran church in this country, and that all Lutheran ministers at their ordination are required to swear allegiance to the kaiser, and to solemnly promise to further the cause of German "kultur" and autocracy in their churches and schools. If this assertion were only half true, every Lutheran church in the United States ought to have been closed by the Federal government, and every Lutheran minister lined up against a wall and shot as a traitor more than a year ago. But the statement, that the Lutheran church of America is subservient to the German government, and every other statement to that effect, is a monstrous falsehood, an infernal slander, a disabolical lie, and they that are industriously peddling this lie, and thereby creating a spirit of antagonism and mob violence against a large body of loyal American citizens, are not serving the interests of their country, but the interests of the German kaiser. Permit me to speak to you now on the subject of: Lutheranism Versus Kaiserism; or What Has the Lutheran Church of America to do with the German Government? Is the German kaiser—the head of the Lutheran church of America? This question has been answered in the affirmative by dozens of news- ANAHEIM GAZETTE ing congregations, and the few faithful pastors are interfered with at every turn. Christian parents only by dint of great exertions can prevent an enemy of Christ, whom they must regard as their pastor, from introducing blasphemy when he baptizes their children. Whoever insists upon religious freedom is regarded as a rebel. How happy are we, compared with the Lutherans of Germany." Some forty years ago, Rev. George Stoeckhardt was pastor of a congregation of the Lutheran State Church of Saxony. He found religious life in his congregation at low ebb. And he was hindered in the work of introducing Christian standards of conduct mainly by the law of the land, which forced him to receive for communion also unpenitent sinners, whose life was an offense to the congregation, unless he had first reported them to the church authorities. When Stoeckhardt declared that he would under no circumstances submit to regulations which were contrary to the scriptures, he was immediately suspended from office. He then resigned and joined the Lutheran Free church, an insignificant body of true Lutherans who had separated themselves from the state church. As pastor and author Stoeckhardt continued to testify against the un-Lutheran practices of State church authorities, and against the pagan unbelief of many German preachers. Now suit was brought against him for "reviling the church and the Christian religion." He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, later commuted to four months. Sentence was never executed because Stoeckhardt accepted a call to a congregation in America. His printer, however had to pay a fine of 180 marks for publishing Stoeckhardt's articles against the un-Christian and un-Lutheran practice of German Lutheran ministers. Thus it happened that the Lutheran church of America obtained the services of one of the greatest theologians of the century, many years professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. Indeed, our grandfathers of seventy years ago were whole-hearted Americans. church from the Prussian State church. Furthermore: While the Lutheran Synod of Missouri has throughout the past seventy-odd years of its existence testified unceasingly against the inequitable State Church system of Germany, and against the mass 'of error and corruption which this ungody union has had in its wake, the church papers of Protestant Germany have these seventy-odd years attacked the Lutheran Synod of Missouri because of its uncompromising stand on the American principle of separation of church and state, and on the Lutheran principle of the inerrancy of the bible. In September, 1913, one year before the outbreak of hostilities in Europe, the Hermansburger "Bote," a German State church paper, brands the Missouri Synod as "an unsympathetic and narrow minded body." Does this utterance of German origin display a sympathetic attitude over against the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran church of America? The fact is, the Lutheran church of America has crossed swords with the German State church long before the United States dreamed of a war with Germany. The hostile attitude of the German State church over against our church is exemplified also by the pressure which is brought to bear against the Lutheran Saxon Free church by that body. This condition was often unbearable and hampered our work on every side. In southern Brazil our Synod has for twenty years carried on extensive missionary work among the Germans that emigrated from Germany to that country. We support or aid in supporting forty missionaries there. The signal success, and evident progress of our work has aroused the envy and antagonism of the Protestant church of Germany. The Protestants of Germany have entered the field, and are conducting missionary work in opposition to us, and in territory contiguous to our mission fields. Listen to the cry of indignation over the hopeless situation of the Missouri Synod of North America, issued in 1912 by "Der Christenbote" a German State church paper: "The North American Missouri Synod, that enemy of evangelical Germanism, in South America, is busy at work in Brazil." we are in deadly earnest in this job of bringing Germany "to a reckoning with mankind." No tax will be too great to make the job complete, and the country will agree in the suggestion, first of all, that a large part of the cost of the war should be met now instead of in the future, and second, that the industries reaping great profits from war's business should in turn contribute greatly to the taxes that will pay for it. That luxuries should likewise be included goes without saying. As to the immediate necessity for the new revenue measure, about which congressional leaders seem to have differing opinions, the country will take the president's word for it because he is in command, and this is certainly true: That it is safer to provide the revenue in advance than to create deficiencies. That's better business, in the first place and it discourages the enemy to see billions ready to follow billions to put him on the bum. WHEN IT COMES HOME (By C. A. Henderson) "Why, let the stricken deer go weep." "Let the galled jade wince."—Hamlet. Cologne is a metropolis of northern Germany in a Prussian province, an important railway center, a fortress of the first class, the commercial entrepot for a large industrial region and the site of the finest specimen of Gothic architecture extant. It has other claims to distinction; of it travelers in former times were wont to aver that it was so unspeakably filthy that only the River River, on which it is situate, might wash it clean, and that thereafter nothing could possibly pur- ment, later commuted to four months. Sentence was never executed because Stoeckhardt accepted a call to a congregation in America. His printer, however had to pay a fine of 180 marks for publishing Stoeckhardt's articles against the un-Christian and un-Lutheran practice of German Lutheran ministers. Thus it happened that the Lutheran church of America obtained the services of one of the greatest theologians of the century, many years professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. Indeed, our grandfathers of seventy years ago were whole-hearted Americans. Do you believe for a moment that they would allow the kaiser or any other foreign prince to interfere with their religion after fleeing from him? People do not suffer persecution and all manner of hardship at the hands of princes, and voluntarily forsake their native land in order to re-establish their former relation when they have found a peaceful haven in a land of plenty. Present Status of the American Lutheran Church Still some might regard it as possible that, while our forefathers and valent ploneers of the Lutheran church of America emigrated from Germany to escape religious persecution and oppression from the State church, the present generation had drifted away from their spirit, and having failed to appreciate the reasons for their position, had now become affiliated with, or at least influenced by, the German State church. What is the position of our church today? Is there any vestige of a change in its attitude? What are the facts in the case? The Lutheran church of America has never solicited nor does it now solicit, financial assistance from the Prussian church or any other State church of Germany. The Lutheran principle based upon scripture, to stand aloof from all unionistic tendencies, so prevalent in our day, is still upheld in our church. Accordingly, we have always refused, and still do refuse, funds coming from a body which does not stand upon the same doctrinal basis with us. The State church of Germany does not acknowledge this basis. This precludes the idea that German money could ever have been used to support our church work in America. As a matter of fact, all the institutions of the Lutheran church of America, our colleges and seminaries, our churches and schools, our home and foreign missions, were founded and are maintained solely by the free contributions of its American constituency and entirely without German state help. If you would examine, with the keen and scrutinizing eyes of a detective, our Synod's treasurer's reports from the time of its organization up to the present date, you would not find a single instance where an institution of the Synodical conference received a penny of German money in subsidies. As a church the Lutheran church of America is independent of German There is signal success, and evident progress of our work has aroused the envy and antagonism of the Protestant church of Germany. The Protestants of Germany have entered the field, and are conducting missionary work in opposition to us, and in territory contiguous to our mission fields. Listen to the cry of indignation over the hopeless situation of the Missouri Synod of North America, issued in 1912 by "Der Christenbote" a German State church paper: "The North American Missouri Synod, that enemy of evangelical Germanism, in South America, is busy at work in Brazil." Does this endearing epithet appear to be the result of a friendly relation existing between the Protestant Church of Germany and the Lutheran Missouri Synod of North America? Conclusion And now, my friends and fellow citizens, is there anything lacking in the proof absolute that the American Lutheran church is 100 per cent loyal and true American? Is it necessary for me to remind you in addition to what has been said, that tens of thousands of the young Lutheran men of our country are today offering their life blood in defense of their country, while many more hold themselves ready to go at a moment's notice? Must I tell you, that as we have sent our sons, we also have given our dollars for their support and the support of the war in general? Have you forgotten the patriotic and generous way in which the Lutheran community of Orange county has subscribed to our Third Liberty loan? Does it become imperative for me to tell you that we challenge any one in this community to show a greater interest in the saving of thrift and war saving stamps than is found among Our Lutheran people? Do you know that our Lutheran women are doing as much and in some instances more than other American women in the noble work of the Red Cross in providing garments and bandages for our sick and wounded boys at the front and at home? Friends, countrymen must I really emphasize all these things undisputed facts and then still be compelled to hear derogatory, derisive and contemptible remarks about the unloyal and unpatriotic Lutheran church? No; I know that we command the respect of every upright citizen in this community, the respect, and trust, and confidence to which we are entitled as fellow citizens and co-workers for a great and noble cause. What are we to think of those people who still persist to deride and discredit our most loyal deeds? Be it said to the disgrace of such people that they are not uniting our country in this great hour of need, but dividing our citizenship by such unjust, unloyal and un-American remarks. Friends, once more I request you to remember the sacred memories to which this day is dedicated, and in doing so I appeal to you to join us Lutherans in presenting to the world at large and to the common enemy a united front, a united America. Cologne is a metropolis of northern Germany in a Prussian province, an important railway center, a fortress of the first class, the commercial entrepot for a large industrial region and the site of the finest specimen of Gothic architecture extant. It has other claims to distinction; of it travelers in former times were wont to aver that it was so unspeakably filthy that only the River Rhine, on which it is situate, might wash it clean, and that thereafter nothing could possibly purify the polluted waters of "the broad and winding Rhine," brought at last to such base uses. It is probable that modern methods of sanitation have dispelled the effluvia which hung in a dank pall over this city of the Rhine, but there is an equal probability that "The odor and bloom of those bygone years will hang o'er its waters forever." Just now, however, Cologne is in the spot light, not because of its name so suggestive of good and evil odors, but because some audacious English bird-men have made valorous attempts to destroy fortress and railway equipment by an air raid, and in so doing caused the death of many people, including women and children. Thereat the belligerent burgomeister or other responsible functionary of the stricken city waxes wroth and demands of the reichstag if an international agreement may not be reached by which the useless murder of women and children in open towns (sic) may be estopped. The perturbation and solicitude of this pragmatist is in no wise remarkable. The amazing effrontery of his appeal to the reichstag, however, is enough to make the world give pause; an international agreement forsooth! Now pray, Mr. Burgher, who is to give sufficient guarantees that any agreement to which Germany is a party, will not speedily become "scraps of paper?" Will the ravaged women of France and Belgium testify in Germany's behalf? What evidence will Rumania and Serbia give for her? Or can wanton attacks on life boats, on hospital ships, on Red Cross organizations, or the dreadful chronicles of the sneaking U-boats be regarded as sufficient guarantees against treachery? Or perhaps the barbarous destruction of the cathedrals at Rheims and Ypres may be offered as sureties against Hun artifice. The world has always supposed itself to be amply protected against the murder of women and children by solemn conventions ratified at The world has always supposed itself to be amply protected against the murder of women and children by solemn conventions ratified at The world has always supposed itself to be amply protected against the murder of women and children by solemn conventions ratified at The world has always supposed itself to be amply protected against the murder of women and children by solemn conventions ratified at The world has always supposed itself to be amply protected against leges and seminaries, our churches and schools, our home and foreign missions, were founded and are maintained solely by the free contributions of its American constituency and entirely without German state help. If you would examine, with the keen and scrutinizing eyes of a detective, our Synod's treasurer's reports from the time of its organization up to the present date, you would not find a single instance where an institution of the Synodical conference received a penny of German money in subsidies. As a church the Lutheran church of America is independent of German religious thought, not only in a literary and theological, but also in a financial way. As Lutherans we pride ourselves and glory in this religious liberty as much as this our beloved country prides itself in its political liberty from foreign tyranny. If there is any relation at all between the Lutheran church of America and the German State church, it is a relation of mutual opposition and antagonism. Let me call your attention to the following convincing facts: When it became patent that the German State church could not be cleansed of its heretical tenets and rationalistic tendencies, and the true Christians yearned for freedom from tyranny which it exercised over their conscience, the American Lutheran church aided them in organizing and subsidizing a Lutheran church body in Germany, the so-called Saxon Free church. Theological candidates who had received their entire education in our institutions, were sent to Germany by American Lutheran church funds. Before their work in Saxony and at various other places in Germany had progressed so far as to be self-supporting, the salaries of these ministers, to a great extent, were paid out of the treasury of the Missouri Synod. This Saxon Free church had to suffer much from German State church opposition, and was supported many years by the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, receiving from it as much as $5,000 annually. So every dollar received in Germany from the Lutheran church of America, was used in opposition to the German State church, and each dollar thus used is a loud testimony to the independence of the American Lutheran co-workers for a great and noble cause. What are we to think of those people who still persist to deride and discredit our most loyal deeds? Be it said to the disgrace of such people that they are not uniting our country in this great hour of need, but dividing our citizenship by such unjust, unloyal and un-American remarks. Friends, once more I request you to remember the sacred memories to which this day is dedicated, and in doing so I appeal to you to join us Lutherans in presenting to the world at large and to the common enemy a united front, a united America. Let us show them an America in which one citizen is valued just as much as another, an America that knows nothing of the petty jealousies of the nations, an America in which it shall be considered a crime to sow the seeds of animosity, hatred and bitterness among citizens of different national extraction, an American in which all may gather around the sacred emblem of our beloved country and join me in saying the words of one of our Lutheran pastors: "My Flag! My Flag! My dear old Flag! My country's and my own! For liberty and justice stands, Protect my church and home. All other flags are naught to me, To them I'll not be true. My Flag! My Flag! Shall always be The Red, the White, the Blue! My Flag! My Flag! My dear old Flag! My father's and my own! May God uphold it evermore Against insidious foes! May every one of you with me Each day this vow renew: My Flag! My Flag! Shall always be The Red, the White, the Blue! READY, MR. PRESIDENT Even in advance of President Wilson's admirable message to congress and the country calling for new taxes to finance the war, the country had answered in the Red Cross drive, by giving an extra 50 per cent for good measure and to emphasize the fact that ORGANIC FORNIA What finer illustration of the marvelous variety of mountain and valley, of productive output and climatic range, could be asked than is suggested by the very brief item that "Cottonwood Lakes are still frozen over?" In the closing days of May, after a ANAHEIM FEED and FUEL CO. Successor to R. W. McClellan Wood, Coal, Hay, Grain Seeds and Flour Choice Seed Potatoes Phones: Pacific 317, Home 294 R. W. McClellan, W. D. Grafton, Props. Good Place to Buy— G-O-O-D L-U-M-B-E-R C. GANAHL LUMBER COMPANY Anaheim. : : : Cal The Best Meats of All Kinds always in stock City Cash Market Schneider Bros., Props. Sunset 20 and 362 Home 1053 Griffith Lumber Co. SEE US FOR YOUR BUILDING MATERIAL Griffith Lumber Co. SEE US FOR YOUR BUILDING MATERIAL In Any Amount, Large or Small South Los Angeles St. H. M. ADAMS, Mgr. Enlist in the Thrift Army Sacrifice should be a pleasure when it means protecting your Country (which means YOU) from the murderous Huns. BUY WAR SAVINGS STAMPS On Sale Everywhere Ganahl Lumber Company SANTA FE TIME TABLE (Corrected to Date) NORTHBOUND Lv. Anaheim Ar. Los Angeles 6:19 A.M. 7:15 A.M. 10:10 A.M. 11:00 A.M. 11:58 A.M. 12:50 P.M. 4:06 P.M. 4:50 P.M. 5:43 P.M. 6:30 P.M. SOUTHBOUND Lv. Los Angeles Ar. Anaheim 8:00 A.M. 8:52 A.M. 9:05 A.M. 9:50 A.M. 2:05 P.M. 2:50 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 6:42 P.M. 11:59 P.M. 1:03 A.M. winter without a day calling for the cessation of outdoor activities in any direction, in California generally, with the orange blossoms already replaced by fruit heavily set for a bumper crop, we read of California lakes away up in the high Sierras still solidly sheeted over with ice at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level. In the valleys semitropical trees and shrubs in almost infinite variety. CLEAN THE STREETS CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Anaheim, Cal., May 16, 1918. You are hereby notified that Section 1 of Ordinance No. 96 makes it the duty of any person or persons who owns or controls any real property within the limits of the City of Anaheim to keep the street or streets upon which the real property is located free from and remove all grass, weeds or vegetation from the outer edge of said street or streets adjoining such real property and the parking, up to the center line of such street or streets. You are further notified that if the provisions of this Section 1 of said Ordinance are not complied with by you within ten days from this date the City of Anaheim will eradicate and remove, at your expense, all grass, weeds or vegetation, which may be on any street or streets adjoining such real property and the parking, owned or controlled by you in the City of Anaheim, according to the provisions of said Ordinance of the City of Anaheim. By order of the Board of Trustees of the City of Anaheim. EDWARD B. MERRITT. Clerk of the City of Anaheim. May 16, 3t. American Fruit Distributors winter without a day calling for the cessation of outdoor activities in any direction, in California generally, with the orange blossoms already replaced by fruit heavily set for a bumper crop, we read of California lakes away up in the high Sierras still solidly sheeted over with ice at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level. In the valleys semitropical trees and shrubs in almost infinite variety. In the upper reaches sheeted ice that may not disappear before the middle of June. And every possible climatic condition between these two extremes, Such is California. There are some fruits that can never reach perfection except where there are winter frosts. Such is the requirement of the apple, and among small fruits, the currant. As if the Almighty had desired to combine all the good gifts at His disposal to be enjoyed within the boundaries of a single commonwealth, here in California, lying between an ocean strand approximately 1000 miles in length and a mountain chain lifting its peaks into the region of the eternal snows, is presented the greatest possible range of climatic conditions and products. Of all the states, it is easily the most favored by Nature. As a preparedness measure it is being advocated that a Home Guard be organized in this city. Well known citizens have taken up the matter and no doubt the organization will be formed at an early date. Santa Ana, Orange and Fullerton have well equipped Home Guards and it would be well for this city to do likewise. Anaheim should have a guard of at least one hundred men properly equipped.