# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S13
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PRESIDENT’S TRIENNIAL REPORT 11

Europe. Since my last report the Rev. C. Gieseler of Denver, Colo-

rado, and the Rev. H. Meyer of Cullman, Alabama, were granted
_ leaves of absence by their congregations and did outstandirig work
as Field Secretaries of our Church among the Prisoners of War.
“The convention will certainly wish to thank these men and their
‘congregations for rendering such service to Synod.

Your President is happy to report that Synod’s financial status
‘continues to be an excellent one. The Treastirer’s report reveals
: figures which give occasion for special gratitude to God. Our people
- responded nobly, willingly, and pountifully. During the past tri-

“ ennium we raised not merely the necessary funds for the regular
expenses of Synod, but were able also to set aside additional sums
for the proverbial “rainy day.” Furthermore, our people responded
to the call for the Peace Thankoffering, for a special Relief Collec-

. tion, and for the Centennial Thankoffering. We praise and thank

God, who rendered their hearts so willing to contribute so liberally.
ne Greater sums of money were raised during the last triennium than
ever before in the history of our Synod. It should serve as a mighty
incentive for even greater expressions of gratitude in the future.
Let us not fail to give credit to our Stewardship Secretaries and
7 in our various Districts. These men have
done exceptionally fine work in training our people to remember
nd to put into practice the principle of true Christian stewardship.
. But above all Jet us not fail to thank God, who moved the hearts

and hands of our people. To Him belongs the glory!

-.. During the past triennium God granted us the joy to pass the
=; -one million mark in communicant membership. This is based upon
the figures reported to the Statistician of Synod. I am certain that
the actual figures are much greater than that. A hundred years ago,
_ when Synod was organized, there were about 4,000 communicants.
. Today we number more than 250 times as many. To God alone
be glory!
Soon after V-E Day your President was requested by the Board
of Directors to be one of a Lutheran group to visit war-torn Europe
_ and to make a survey especially of church conditions. Originally
this group was to consist of Dr. J. A. Aasgaard of the Evangelical
‘Lutheran Church (Norwegian), Dr. Franklin C. Fry of the United
Lutheran Church of America, Dr. Ralph Long of the National Lu-
theran Council, Dr. L. Meyer, and your President. It became ap-
parent that the men of the other Lutheran bodies were not ina
position to leave as early as Dr. L. Meyer and I could leave. Hence
we sailed alone. We had opportunity to visit our congregation at
London and to thank the members and their pastor, the Rev. F. S.
Janzow, for the outstanding hospitality which they showed to our
men and women in service during the years of the war. Through