Árdís - 01.01.1954, Page 6

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Dr. Franklin C. Fry, president of The United Lutheran Church in
America. Among the great personalities from abroad are such men
of renown as Otto Debilius, Lutheran bishop in East Germany,
Eivind Berggav, bishop of Norway, a man of world renown, Mare
Bogner, Protestant leader in France; Greek Archbishop Athena-
goras. The general secretary of The World Council is Dr. W. A.
Visser’t Hooft of Holland.
Among the delegates are many outstanding men and women
of great and heroic experience in work of relief and mercy among
the homeless unfortunate refugees of many lands. It is of special
interest that among the many delegates and accredited workers
there are 23 women. Some, teachers of varied and rich experience,
deaconesses and social workers from Europe who have lived
through the awful experience of the Second World War, and the
difficult experiences of the Post-War World, serving suffering,
homeless and hopeless humanity in Europe, the North East, and
in Asia.
I mention at random such names as that of Hildegard Ellenbeck
of East Berlin, who has done most outstanding work. Many minis-
ters’ wives were expected to attend the Assembly, among them
Mrs. Martin Niemoller of Germany, who struggled with her seven
children, while the Nazi persecutions raged, and her husband
languished in jail for his outspoken testimony to the Gospel of
Christ.
The vastness of the Assembly at Evanston is such that it is
impossible in a few words to give any adequate picture of it, especi-
ally for one who has only studied the proposed plans for this great
Assembly.
It may be of interest to say that there are 83 accredited
Lutheran visitors, delegates and workers, representing 36 different
church-bodies in 18 countries, and 46 million Lutherans. Among
them Rev. Bragi Reynir Fredericksson of Lundar, Man., represent-
ing the National Church of Iceland.
Most Lutherans on this continent were represented, except the
Missouri Synod, U.S.A.
There were delegates from Greece, Turkey, Formosa, India,
Japan. From Soviet ruled and dominated countries such as East
Germany, Hungary; delegates from Czeckoslovakia were also ex-
pected. Among new members of The World Council, was the
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