THE Lutheran Church in A STUDY AN EXPLANATION AN ATTEMPTED SOLUTION BY G. H. GERBERDING, D.D., LL.D. AUTHOR OF New Testament Conversions, The Lutheran Pastor, The Lutheran Life and Letters of Passavant. PHILADELPHIA .GENERAL COUNCIL PUBLICATION BOARD COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE Board of Publication of the General Council All Rights Reserved 686 Luth $362 lu ΤΟ All Faithful Country Pastors Who Appreciate its Importance; Who Believe in its Possibilities; Who Believe that Lutheranism will Survive in the Country BECAUSE IT IS THE FITTEST; This Book is Affectionately DEDICATED PREFACE Some one has said: "If it were not for the stream of fresh, pure, uncontaminated blood flowing into them from the country the cities would rot in their own iniquity. 99 We are sorry to be compelled to believe that this is true. But the good, pure and purifying blood does not all come into the city from the country districts of our own land. Many of the much maligned "foreigners" from the country districts of the old world are a saving salt of no small insignificance. This book wants to help the reader to understand country people and to appreciate the worth of country character. It desires to help the country pastor to remove what hinders and hurts country character. It would fain assist him to get a right understanding of his community and to use his church for its uplift. It hopes to contribute toward the saving and strengthening of the Lutheran Church in the country. The country problem is peculiar. Its solution is difficult. The work is often depressing. The Lutheran pastor needs a better understanding of the situation. |