k. In years gone by English churches were scarce,
but now they are to be found in every part of the city. In part at
least, the home pastors are responsible. When their people remove to New
York they ought to be supplied with letters, and the New York pastors
should be notified. In fifty years I have not received twenty-five
letters from my country brethren asking me to look after their wandering
sheep.

For the foreign Lutherans who have failed to comnect with the church,
three reasons may be given: 1. Ignorance. Not ignorance in general, but
ignorance in regard to church conditions in America. They come from
National churches where their relation to the church does not require
much personal initiative. They belong to the church by virtue of their
baptism and confirmation. Their contributions to its maintenance are
included in the general tax levy.

Arrived in New York where Church and State are separate, a long time may
pass before any one cares for the soul of the immigrant. Our pastors are
busy with their routine work and seldom look after the new comers,
unless the new comers look after them. The latter soon become reconciled
to a situation which accords with the inclinations of the natural man.
Ignorance of American church conditions accounts for the slipping away
of many of our foreign brethren from the fellowship of the church.

2. Indifference. Many foreigners who come here are merely indifferent to
the claims of religion. Others are distinctly hostile toward the church.
Most of the Socialistic movements of continental Europe, because of the
close association of Church and State, fail to discriminate between
their respective ideas. Thy condemn the former for the sins of the
latter.

3. Infidelity. A materialistic philosophy has undermined the Christian
conception of life and the world, and multitudes of those who were
nominally connected with the church have long since repudiated the
teachings of Christianity.

It is a tremendous problem that confronts us, the evangelization of four
hundred thousand Lutherans. If for no other reason, because of its
magnitude and because of its appeal to our denominational
responsibility, it is a problem worth solving. But it is a challenge to
our Christianity and it should stimulate us to an intense study of its
possible solution.

Ministers can contribute much toward its solution. It is true our hands
are full and more than full with the ordinary care of our flocks. But