nations therefore account for one-half of our fourteen synods. The
history of the Missouri Synod is one of struggle, sacrifice and
remarkable growth. For seventy-five years other Lutherans have sought
fellowship with them, but they decline to hold fellowship with churches
that are not in full accord with their doctrinal position.

Each of these divisions has some historical reason for its existence
which cannot be ignored or lightly pushed aside. For various reasons
each synod emphasizes some phase of church life which in its opinion
warrants a separate organization. Perhaps some of the progress of the
last half century may be credited to a wholesome rivalry between these
various schools of Lutheranism.

On the other hand these synodical divisions among churches holding the
same substance of doctrine, even when they do not provoke downright
hostility, are an effective bar to the fraternal alliance so greatly
needed in our polyglot communion. Our neighbors, too, of other
Denominations, when they try to understand our meticulous divisions, are
not unnaturally disposed to look upon us as a conglomerate of sectarian
religionists rather than as a Church or even as a distinct Denomination.
In lists of denominational activities our churches figure as G. C.
Lutherans, G. S. Lutherans, Missouri Lutherans, etc., while all of us
are frequently called upon to explain whether we belong to the
Evangelical branch of the Lutherans or not.

Absorbed as we are in the local interests of our individual
congregations and in the questions that divide us among ourselves, we
seldom have an opportunity to give expression to outstanding principles
of our church in such a way as to impress the public mind with a sense
of their importance.