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Theological Seminaries THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
divine doctrine, not only in the sense that it treats of divine matters, but, above all; in the sense that it exhibits God's own thoughts, to the exclusion of all human views and opinions. Christian doctrine is nothing but what God himself thinks and proclaims about these matters in Holy Scripture, and Christian doctrine regarding Holy Scripture is not what men hold it to be, but what Christ and his apostles taught us that it is, viz., the infallible Word of God, given by inspiration. The various parts of Christian doctrine form a harmonic whole to such an extent that an aberration in one doctrine affects, by consequence, the whole body of doctrine, especially the doctrine of justification, and whatever lacuna appear in the body of Christian doctrine are not to be filled up by human speculation, but must be left open, to be filled by the perfect knowledge of eternity. This principle explains the position which Concordia Seminary occupies over and against Calvinism on the one hand and Arminianism or Synergism on the other. Concordia Seminary retains both the teaching of universalis gratis and sola gratis, claiming that Scripture teaches both, and it finds a correct restatement of Biblical doctrine over against error in the Confessions of the Lutheran Church, while holding that later Lutheran theologians have in some points deviated from the accuracy of Scriptural teaching, as on the relations of Church and State, Sunday, conversion, and predestination. By rigidly adhering to these principles the institution has been instrumental in educating a homogeneous Christian ministry, which is modern in equipment-only graduates of classical colleges are admitted-and acquainted with modern doctrinal liberalism, while rejecting and combating doctrinal looseness in every form as unbiblical and unscientific. Its graduates are at work in all the states of the Union, and in Canada, South America, Australia, India, and Europe (London, and the Lutheran Free Churches in Germany and Denmark).
Concordia Seminary registered in 1910 285 stu dents, and seven professors, who lecture in German, English, and Latin. It is governed by a board of trustees composed of three lay and two clerical members who are elected by the Missouri Synod for a term of three years. All the students are Luther ans and, with some few exceptions, are graduates of the Synod's classical schools at Bronxville, N. Y., Fort Wayne, Ind., Milwaukee, Wis., St. Paul, Minn., Concordia, Mo., and Winfield, Kan. The supply of young men upon whom the Synod may levy for making up losses in, and for enlarging, its ministry is practically unlimited, since 2,123 parochial schools are in operation within the Synod. Concordia Sem inary carries no endowment, and all expenses are defrayed from the synodical treasury, which is kept solvent by voluntary contributions of the congre gations and by the proceeds of the Synod's book concern, the Concordia Publishing House. The number of books in the library of the seminary is 15,000. FRANZ A. O. PrEPER.BIBLIOGRAPHY: Der Lutheraner, mcxviii.W x.; F. Pieper,
LehrsteZLung der Missouri-Synwde, St. Louis, Mo., 1897.
6. Concordia (Springfield, Ill.): This institution, now situated in Springfield, Ill., and officially
entitled " Concordia College," owes its origin to Rev. J. C. W. Lohe (q.v.) of Neuendettelsau, Bavaria, who, touched by the religious distress among the emigrated Germans, founded a seminary for practical preparation for the ministry at Ft. Wayne, Ind., in 1846. Lohe sent over eleven young men, together with a talented candidate of theology, Roebbelen, as instructor, and, under the supervision of Dr. W. Sihler (q.v.), the school was opened in an upper chamber of the parsonage. The earliest instructors of this " Practical Seminary of the Missouri Synod " were Dr. W. Sihler and Profs. A. Wolter and A. Biewend (I846-50). The vacancy caused by Biewend's call to the St. Louis Seminary was filled in 1850 by Prof. A. Craemer, who for forty-one years was an untiring and zealous laborer in behalf of the " Practical Seminary." A radical change occurred in 1861, when the classical department of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was removed to Ft. Wayne, while the " Practical Theological Seminary," with Professor Craemer, was transferred from Ft.Wayne to St. Louis to be united with the " Theoretical Seminary " under the supervision of Dr. C. F. W. Walther (q.v.). Until 1875 all the professors lectured to the students of both seminaries, but now another important change was to take place. In Springfield, Ill_ the Illinois State University had passed into the hands of the General Council. This synod was desirous of selling the institution, and, largely through the agency of Rev. W. A. Passavant (q.v.) and of Rev. H. Katt (now of Terre Haute, Ind.; then assistant pastor at Springfield), it was purchased by the Missouri Synod in 1873. The following year the " Proseminary " (established in 1852), with Professor Kroening, was removed from St. Louis to Springfield, and in 1875 the " Practical Seminary " followed, with Professor Craemer as president. Here the seminary has found a permanent home. Prof. H. Wyneken was called in 1876, and Prof. J. S. Simon in 1881. Wyneken resigned in 1890 on account of failing health, Craemer died in 1891, and Kroening was called to Milwaukee in 1892, their successors being Prof. R. Pieper (elected to the presidency in 1891), Prof. J. Herzer, and Prof. F. Streckfuss (1892). In 1892 an English theological professorship was founded and filled by the appointment of Prof. L. Wessel. Professor Simon resigned in 1904, and was succeeded first by Prof. T. Schlueter (now at Watertown, Wis.) and then by Prof. O. Boecier (1909). As quite a number of Slovak students pursue their studies here, Prof. S. Tuhy was appointed in 1910 to instruct them in their fnothertongue.
The whole course embraces two departments: the proaeminary (two years) and the seminary (three years), in the latter of which the usual branches of exegetical, systematic, historical, and practical theology are taught. Since the ministers must be enabled to officiate in German and in English, instruction is imparted in both languages. The institution stands for sound Lutheranism, and no teaching contrary to the Book of Concord is tolerated, and for a thoroughly conservative position in respect to Biblical criticism and " scientific theology." Over 700 ministers have graduated here.