Church schools 2: Lutherans at Jesuit schools? No! (Walther) Part 2

      Continuing this series from Part 1, in the 1875 Der Lutheraner, p. 190, Walther commented on Lutheran education in both Germany and America. In this, he gives the strongest warnings that I have seen in print by him, on the duties of Lutheran parents to have their children educated in Lutheran, Christian schools:

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Attendance at the schools of unbelievers. The Leipzig Allgemeine evang.-lutherische Kirchenzeitung” of October 29th reports it as a peculiarity that the unbelievers in Austria, who are always so adamant against the influence of the priests [Pfaffen], nevertheless gladly entrust their sons to the Catholic so-called spiritual orders for education. The demand for this is so great that in Kremsmünster, for example, it has not been possible to accept all those who have applied. — Unfortunately, we have a similar perception here in America. Here not only many unbelieving, but also many believing parents, even so-called Lutherans, send their sons and daughters to the Jesuit institutions, yes, Lutherans even to the institutions of the “unbelievers”, in order to give their children a higher education. This is highly irresponsible. God says: “Fathers, bring up your children in discipline and admonition to the Lord”. (Eph. 6:4.) Against this commandment act all parents who hand over their children to unbelievers and false believers for education. Of course, one says: "Where should they be sent? Lutheran schools of further education do not exist!" But first of all, there are a few; and secondly, the Lutherans themselves are to blame for the lack of higher Lutheran educational institutions. For we Lutherans do not lack the means, but we shy away from the great sacrifices that it would cost if the aforementioned lack were to be remedied. Oh that we would wake up! The matter is more important than most think. When the pagan Roman Cornelia was once asked about her jewelry, she pointed to her sons and said, “These are my greatest jewelry.” What other mothers spent on their jewelry, she spent on the education and training of her sons. Isn't that shameful for many Lutheran parents of our time? W. [Walther]

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Proper Christian education was paramount for Walther. And we see by his comments how sad today's Lutheranism is regarding this situation. I can name at least two high LC-MS officials and one WELS official who attended Jesuit institutions. Today Walther's counsel is scoffed at, but it is today's “Lutheran” teachers who would rather believe a lie. — This series will be continued …