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| By Norma A. Boeckler |
I was grinding some coffee beans this morning and remembering the excitement about Luther when I was becoming a Lutheran. The teens talked about Luther's Works and I first heard about Bainton and Here I Stand. That was in the 1960s.
Initially, I thought the year after the anniversary in 2017 would be the afterglow, but there was no glow in the first place.
WELS Gets a Cancer Transplant - From Walther
Here is an interesting factoid from Sparky Brenner's Jars of Clay - when Walther was trying to absorb the Wisconsin Synod and its seminary, about 20 Wisconsin men graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Walther's attempt failed and a seminary was set up in a matter of months, with classes started by Hoenecke and another professor.
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| Franz Pieper, brother of August Pieper, 1923 |
August Pieper stayed at St. Louis until he graduated. His brother Franz studied there and became Walther's successor only three years after graduating. Walther violated the procedure for calling F. Pieper so he could control the vote at the national convention instead of trusting the districts to vote. (See Fuerbringer for details.)
So Wisconsin not only got 20 brain-washed pastors by Walther's dogmatic methods, but also received a bonus - their own future seminary president - August Pieper - thoroughly trained by CFW, Stephan's henchman then hangman.
Historical research alone - thanks, Sparky - shows why Walther's absurd Easter Absolution of the World, borrowed from Halle via Bishop Stephan - became the standard in WELS. One would be inclined to blame JP Meyer, who certainly deserves his share, but August had the power and glory of being the seminary president and prolific author.
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| Back cover, Volume VI, Luther's Sermons |
Luther's Sermons completely destroy any opposition to Justification by Faith, which is why the Lutheran leaders of today loathe the Reformer.
Volume VI of the Sermons is being prepared for Amazon printed books and Kindle e-books.
Volume VII is already in the finishing stages, with some format editing, gems, and art to be added.
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| Cover and interior art designed by Norma A. Boeckler |
