The Sauk Centre Herald

LUTHERANS ATTEND
MEETING IN RAIN

Nearly 2000, Old and Young,
Were Present at Long Prairie Celebration

TWO FINE ADDRESSES
Program a Unique Revelation
300 From Sauk Centre Community

In spite of the most inclement
weather the Quadricentennial celebration, commemorating the 400th
anniversary of Luther's catechism
was held at Long Prairie Sunday.
The attendance surpassed all expectations for the day.

The speaker in the afternoon
complimented the large audience
on not having their ardor dampened
by the wet weather and on showing
such loyalty by braving the elements and turning out in such
large numbers. Rev. J. A. Schumacher, local pastor remarked:
"It has given me more satisfaction to see nearly 2000 people turn
out on such a day than I would
have received by seeing 5000 or 6,000 turn out on a warm sunny day."

The splendid program was carried through to the last number
and the loud speakers installed by
Radio Station KDGE, Fergus
Falls, carried the service to all the
automobile audience as well as to
those in the grandstand in a most
satisfactory manner.

Two services were held, the one
in the morning, in the German
language by Rev. W. Ernst, of Hollywood, Minn. A chorus of several
hundred children sang and the
whole assembly in unison recited
portions of Luther's Catechism in
honor of its 400th anniversary.
This was also done in the afternoon, the English service conducted by the Rev. A. Ackerman, Mankato, Minn.

Both speakers in a very able
manner impressed upon their audience the great and inestimable
value of Luther's Catechism as a
gift of God given through Dr.
Martin Luther at a time when
darkness, superstition and ignorance reigned supreme.

The speaker in the morning
chose as his text Luke 10:42, the
story of Mary and Martha, the Lord
commending Mary for having chosen that good part, the one thing
needful which shall not be taken
away from her.

He stated the thing most needful
to every person is the right answer
to the question: "How can I be
saved?" He showed, how Luther's
Catechism containing the chief
doctrines of Holy Scripture, in simple, brief, concise form gives you
the answer. Luther's Catechism
teaches and explains God's Holy
law, which leads men into the
knowledge of sin and the Gospel,
which leads the sinner unto his
Saviour, in such clear and comprehensive manner that old and
young could grasp it. The speaker
said it has led millions out of darkness and superstition during its
course of 400 years.

It still contains and teaches the
one thing needful for man to know,
especially for the young. Therefore, as the Lord said to Mary,
"Let not this good part be taken
from you, but keep it and teach it
to your children, as the one thing
most needful in our day."

The speaker in the afternoon
chose as his text Psalm 78:1-7. He
asked everyone to read the important truths of this Psalm for himself at home and continued that as
the Psalm singles out no individual person but calls to remembrance
the great and bountiful blessings
of God, with the command to make
them known unto their children.

"The object of this celebration
said the speaker was not to point
to numerical strength or individual persons, but to remind us of the
great and bountiful blessings of
God, which have come upon us
thru the great work of the reformation, in which not only one has
shared, but the whole world, even
our opponents. For it ended the
general reign of darkness, ignorance and superstition.

"Speaking of Luther's Catechism,
not of the shell, as he stated, but of
its contents," it does not contain
man-made teachings, but the inspired word of God, and it is solidly due to this fact that it has outlived 400 years. It has been translated into 137 different languages.

"He challenged anyone to name
another book, besides the Bible,
that has stood the test of time for
400 years.

Continuing the speaker said:
"Books on geography in our schoolroom, or books on medicine at our
universities, etc., written 400 years
ago, are completely antiquated,
out of date. Books on philosophy
400 years ago are rejected and
scoffed at today, but this little
book, which received such honorable mention in our midst at this
time, still fits this world today,
like our Bible, because it is drawn
from the Bible. It is one of the
assets of the Lutheran Church and
is numbered among confessional
writings.

Referring to his text, the 78
Psalm, the speaker emphasized the
inviting truth it contained, "to
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Lutherans Attend
Meeting in Rain
(Continued From Page One)

put your trust and
confidence in
God alone, likewise, Luther's Catechism invites and instructs you to
put your trust in no saint or person, living or dead, but in God and
His word alone.

Luther troubled in his conscience
about the way unto salvation, diligently searched his Bible and having found the way the just shall
live by faith,' by faith alone in the
Savior be taught this way unto
others, unto the masses floundering in darkness."

More beautiful words in the German language are not found than
Luther's explanation of the II Article of his Christian Creed, and the
English translation has not detracted therefrom. Read it:

I believe that Jesus Christ,
true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also
true man, born of the Virgin
Mary, is my Lord, who has
redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased
and won me, from all sins,
from death, and from the
power of the devil, not with
gold or silver, but with His
holy, precious blood and with
His innocent suffering and
death, that I may be His own
and live under Him in His
kingdom and serve Him in
everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the
dead, lives and reigns to all
eternity. This is most certainly true.

Teach this Bible truth to your
children and the smallest child in
possession of this truth is wiser
and nearer to heaven than the
greatest philosopher with all his
philosophy.

Statistics show that 85 per cent
become church members before the
age of 20 and 15 per cent after
they are 21 years of age. As the
twig is bent, so will the tree grow.
If bent crooked, don't be surprised
at grownup crooked sons and
daughters and crooked men and
women.

Ex-President Coolidge in his address at the dedication of the Public Library at Brookings, S. D.,
Sept. 10, 1928, spoke of the greatness of our nation, but deplored the appalling neglect of our youth
and quoted the words of Solomon:

"The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom."

President Herbert Hoover shortly before his inauguration addressed
the representatives of New York
City with these words which give
food for thought. "In our
own
country life and property are relatively more unsafe than in any
part of the civilized world." President Hoover gave no remedy.

The remedy which the speaker in
his closing remarks impressed upon his audience, and especially upon the parents, is to instill into the
youthful hearts of sons and daughters the "Fear of Lord and the Beginning of Wisdom."

Luther's Catechism in this has
led the way for 400 years and still
very adequately and effectively
leads the way today."