Dear brethren in convention assembled, I wish to impress upon you in this my last presidential message the fact that the Melanchthonian spirit of synergism, compromise, and unionism all but succeeded in preventing the giving of the Augsburg Confession to the World. After Luther's death the same spirit raised its head again and made protracted and insidious attacks on Scripture truth as confessed at Augsburg. This time it brought forth an Altered Augsburg Confession. It has been active ever since, though its voice has at times been somewhat muffled and its operations varying in degree of boldness.

The forces thus set in motion within thee early Lutheran Church, and which have their deep-set roots in natural man's reason and inclination, are today bringing forth a bountiful harvest of indifferentism to and misuse of, God's Word, of compromise, and of related sins. Throughout the length and breadth of our land a strong, influential voice is- now reverberating, bearing the message: "God's Moment is Now" for "recognition and fellowship" among American Lutherans. Voices are also lifted in the interest of "the whole problem of American church unity" which express the hope that "the tide toward a true, free, national church in America" may set in.

The wave of indifferentism and unionism that threatened to swamp as, and that did wash overboard many of our friends and brethren two decades ago, was relatively small and timid as compared to the great and bold wave now advancing on orthodox Lutheranism in America and the world. The prevailing winds are against us, the tides and currents are contrary, the sea is rough. Brethren, the need of the hour is faithful, I repeat, faithful, fearless, consecrated captains with firm hands to the helm, eyes fixed on the compass and chart-the open Bible - and a vigorous "get thee hence Satan" to every suggestion of reason, convenience, and self aggrandizement.

Should fear and trembling overtake you, see to your footing on the impregnable Rock of Ages. Behold the Ark which Noah builded in obedience and according to the Lord's specifications, and take courage; it carried its precious cargo to safety, borne on the very waters of the deluge. See the disobedient Jonah cast into the sea and swallowed by a great fish, and don't fail to note that the selfsame great fish had to do God's bidding and bring the obedient Jonah in safety to land. Note well, furthermore, what the lone voice of the chastened, obedient prophet accomplished: The exceeding great and wicked city, Nineveh, repented and believed God. "Why," indeed, "are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" With us is the Lord our God to help us as long as ;we continue in His Word. Amen, in Jesus' name.

H. M. Tjernagel.