“There are even now some outspoken Rationalists who call themselves Lutherans, as there are others who, in regard to the distinctive doctrines of the Lutheran Church, are in open sympathy with Reformed parties, though for some reason they would rather be called Lutherans. Such persons cannot be included in a Lutheran union, because they lack that which the Lutheran name imports and which is distinctive of the Lutheran Church.”
From The Columbus Theological Magazine, Vol. 6. 1886. “Lutheran Union. Second Part.”
