Letter to Theodore Graebner - October 24, 1918
Transcript
[Concordia Teachers College letterhead] [October] 24, 1918. Prof. Theo. Graebner, 3618 Texas Ave., St. Louis, [Missouri] My dear Friend, Your letter has conveyed no good news to me, that you do not intend to print my whole report on the camp pastor, situation since our people would surely like to know what we have done in the matter. Nevertheless I wish to thank you that you have not printed the protests which were sent you prior to my report, as it actually was according to our policy. We would have deplored the publication of any protests as a premature act and a handicap in our work. If, therefore, you would kindly mention, in introductory remarks to page three, which you promised to print, that we have worked diligently, and petitioned the government to give our pastors the opportunity to adequately serve our boys, and add the last report I sent you, it will serve the same purpose. We are again in a dispute with our Eastern Department about cooperation with the N.L.C. I have two lengthy letters from two brethren, urging us to unite in work with the N.L.C. We will have a hard fight and a difficult stand, especially since I am not in the theological work any more as in former days, and it takes quite a study to refute all their arguments. Since it is a matter of so far-reaching importance, it should really be taken up by the officials of the Synod, not by a Board working to its utmost capacity for the Army and Navy. But I suppose we will have to take the iniative steps. Our Board is firm against Unionism, and I hope it will remains so to be. Thanking you for past kindness, I remain Yours very truly, W.C. Kohn
Transcript
[Lutheran Church Board letterhead] October 24, 1918. Prof. Theo. Graebner, 3618 Texas Ave., St. Louis, [Missouri] Reverend Sir: Owing to the absence of our secretary, Reverend F.C. Streufert, who is confined to his home on account of illness, I beg to reply to the second paragraph of your letter directed to the attention of Prof. W.C. Kohn in which you ask us to submit to you the names of all Lutheran boys from the Synodical Conference who are reported wounded, dead or prisoners or mentioned for conspicuous bravery. We wish to say that the reports coming to us on these different questions are not sufficiently comprehensive to do justice to the Synodical Conference. In other words, the number of dead, wounded and missing in our files would be so limited as to misrepresent what we believe you are trying to show. Some pastors have seen fit to report to us their dead and our files at the present time, number eighty six who have passed away while in the service. However, this number is not at all representative of the total dead from our circles as we know for a fact, drawing our conclusions from the reports of the various military pastors and camp missionaries. The present epidemic of Influenza has increased the number of dead by leaps and bounds but there is absolutely no way of establishing a figure that would be even reasonably accurate. Regretting extremely that we cannot give you better information on the questions put to us and assuring you that if it were possible we would be more than anxious to have you publish such matter, we are Very cordially yours [ms illegible: signature] TWE/KK.
Details
| Title | Letter to Theodore Graebner - October 24, 1918 |
| Creator | Unknown |
| Source | Unknown. Letter to Theodore Graebner. 24 October 1918. Graebner, Theodore Collection. Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Letter to Professor Theodore Graebner from a member of the Lutheran Church Board for Army and Navy. The author of the letter inquired about the number of Lutheran men who have been killed or wounded in action, or cited for bravery. The Lutheran Church Board for Army and Navy was committed to raising money for camp pastors to be sent to U.S. training camps to help promote the gospel. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Public opinion; World War, 1914-1918--Religious aspects; Lutheran Church |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Contributing Institution | Concordia Historical Institute |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Concordia Historical Institute: 314-505-7900 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | October 24, 1918 |
| Language | English |