Meantime the crisis came in the Synodical Conference. The predestination controversy was raging with ever increasing ardor, and all were pressed to take sides on the burning question. I was editor, and of course, had to speak out. Not that I was disposed rashly to put myself forward. It was long before I admitted what seemed to lie so plainly before the eyes of all who were willing to see. For a long while I thought that there must be some mistake about it. Antecedently it looked improbable to me that such a man as Dr. Walther, with all his wide learning and profound devotion to Lutheran doctrine, would at last be caught in the snare of Calvinism. The confusion apparent in the first presentation of Missourian predestinarianism nourished this thought, and for months I entertained the hope that the mystery would yet be cleared up and Missouri would yet retrieve its honored Lutheran character. But I was disappointed. The Missourians defended their error, and it became ever more evident that their offensive statements were not slips of their tongues and pens, but were the expression of false doctrines which had entered their souls. As soon as I was convinced that they inculcated Calvinistic opinions, I did not hesitate to say so; and I accordingly was one of the first among us to incur their displeasure. The announcement was made that Missourians would not sit in conference with any who pronounced their doctrine Calvinistic, and that settled the matter for them as regards their future relations to opponents.
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GJ - Pastor Loy perhaps felt compelled to call CFW "Dr. Walther" because his own Capital University gave the UOJist an honorary ThD in 1877. At any rate, Loy was unfailingly polite and respectful.
I agree with Stephan - Walther was a fox. He knew how to play the role of a humble layman, but he called himself "Pastor of Brauensdorf" after resigning that call, when he helped make Stephan a bishop by acclamation. Of course, no one could be a leader in the Stephanite cult unless he agree 100% with Stephan and subordinated himself entirely to Stephan's will. That is why CFW and the rest "did not know" about the bishop's adultery. Ha!
The Missouri sect played to the worst instincts of Walther, who duplicated the attitudes of Stephan, demanding 100% obedience. That made CFW even worse and closed him off to any corrective discussion and debate. There are stories about his tyranny, but they are smothered by his almost-divine status in the LCMS.
Is Matt the Fatt any better than Walther? Discussing LCMS doctrine - without having an official title - is enough to get one kicked out of the ministry and removed from one's congregation. Harrison only looks good in comparison with his campaign manager, Paul the Plagiarist. And yet the subservient LCMS puts up with them both, God's punishment inflicted on them for tolerating and promoting false doctrine.
