Franz Pieper on Using the Title "Father" for Ministers of the Gospel

The complaint over people using the title "father" in reference to pastors is a perennial canard. I personally don't use it as it hasn't been common in American Lutheranism, but there isn't anything intrinsically wrong with it. 

The Large Catechism teaches that pastors are spiritual fathers and that should be enough to stop the silliness of interpreting Jesus as if He doesn't want Christians to ever call anyone "father." Perhaps my favorite response is to ask the complainer if he also refuses to call his dad "father." 

If a Lutheran pastor is actually Romanizing or developing Easternizing tendencies, identify and deal with the substance of the problem. 

I've been called a "bronzie" more than once, and I obviously love "old Missouri." But if you're out bronzing Franz Pieper in a translation by J. T. Mueller, you've got a problem. 

Here's Franz Pieper on the subject:

"Freemasonry" by Rev. William Dallmann (Tract)

 

In the tract "Freemasonry," William Dallmann discusses the false teaching and anti-Christian nature of freemasonry. He doesn't get bogged down in broader theories about the masons but rather focuses on hanging their own words around them. This resulted in a brief, helpful summary of the problems and false doctrine of freemasonry.

The full tract is below.

Note: For another tract by Dallmann and a brief introduction to this new series, "Tracts of the old Missouri Synod," click here. 

"Why I Am a 'Missourian'" by Rev. William Dallmann and an Introduction to Tracts of Old Missouri

Tracts have always been a powerful form of popularly "getting the word out." During the Reformation, pamphleteers shaped the public's perception of innumerable topics. While perhaps memes have surpassed the paper tract or pamphlet today, they are still used and are of great use. 

I have seen hundreds of Lutheran tracts and am fascinated by them. They help us see what our forefathers thought was essential to say about particular subjects to a popular audience. Summarization betrays much about how a person, or a Synod, thinks and thus I'd like to share some of the tracts of "Old Missouri." 

Note: When posting tracts, I plan on keeping my commentary brief and posting the complete tract/s.

The first tract is "Why I Am a 'Missourian'" by William Dallmann.