nted. Wesley's simple evangelical message
was abroad in the land in the hearts of the people. But the
evangelical voice of Luther, the prince of translators, was hardly
heard and even today the English world has no clear popular view of
what spiritual Evangelical Lutheranism is. Often when they speak of
it, they seem to think it is the opposite of what it is. Germans,
Scandinavians and all know the spiritual side of Methodism, but the
English world does not know the spiritual side of Lutheranism, and it
never will until Luther's spiritual writings are translated into
readable English and circulated broadcast over the land, and the
hearts of the people come into direct and close touch with the heart
of the great Reformer himself.

The English world knows the statistics, the numerical strength of
Lutherans. That needs no apology. But what does need a defense among
Americans is the spirituality of the Lutherans. That is developed by
the translations into the plainest vernacular of God's Word and
Luther's evangelical sermons and commentaries. These are the best
literature for young Germans and Scandinavians. Although translations,
and not perfect, they are the best for them. The Bible first; Luther's
spiritual writings second, not first nor third. Have not Lutherans in
America been following the disciples of Luther instead of Luther;
while Methodists have followed Wesley and not Wesley's disciples. The
Dutch, Swedish and German Lutherans in the east, all learned English.
We say it was a transition, but was it not a revolution? Their history
stands forth as beacon lights of warning to the polyglot Lutherans
migrating to the ends of earth and learning all languages. They will
no more keep up their faith with one language than the English nation
will keep up their trade by refusing to learn other languages. Strange
it is that nations can learn and use other languages in one line and
not in another--the English in church work and not in trade; the
Germans in trade, but not in church work.

It is said there are 30 million people in the United States with some
German blood in their veins. Two thirds of these, or 20 millions, may
be said to have some Lutheran mixture in their makeup, but only one
and a half million of these 20 millions are communicant members of
English and German Lutheran churches. What people in America can show
a worse religious record? Yet the tenders of the sheep and lambs are
afraid to feed them in the onl