# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S851
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS 847

or removed by correspondence. We had been instructed to confer
with the brethren at their ‘respective District conventions. Bad
weather conditions for flying, however, made it impossible to reach
Porto Alegre, Brazil, in time to meet with the brethren at their
convention. In Argentina the convention celebrated the fortieth
anniversary of the beginning of our work in Argentina. I was
privileged to join the brethren at San Juan for the District
convention.

The President of the Brazil District is a native of Brazil. The
election of Pastor Rudolfo Hasse, a native Brazilian, to the Presi-
dency of the District during the war period meant much to stabilize
the work of the Church and to restore calm in the midst of the
many trials that were upon our churches. We shall hear President
Hasse at the convention.

President S. Beckmann of Argentina is a citizen of the United
States. For more than a quarter of a century he has been in
our missions in Argentina. He is foot-loose and in full charge
of mission activities in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

As President Hasse in Brazil is visiting the far-flung missions
in his District to acquaint them with the work of the Church and
reminding them of their obligation to share in the support of the
ministry of the Word in their midst, so also President Beckmann
leaves nothing undone to inspire pastors and congregations to do
their share that the work in their midst in the District and Synod
at large might go forward.

Missions in China.—Among the foreign missions which suf-
fered greatly were the missions in China. Though our country is
no longer at war, there still is fighting in China.

The Word, however, was not bound in China even in the midst
of devastating wars, revolutions, and uprisings. Our missionaries
and Christians were forced to leave for the inland. The ranks of
the missionary force were very much reduced. Toward the close
of 1946, however, a group of 12 new missionaries arrived in China
to continue the work.

Missions in the Philippine Islands. — Missions in the Philippine
Islands have become a reality. Two missionaries and their families
have begun activities in Manila. There are outstanding possibilities
to open new fields.

Missions in India. — Here, in spite of great difficulties, the work
continued without interruption. During the war it was quite
difficult to secure the necessary transportation for missionaries and
their families eager to return to their former field of activity. But
now the high seas are again open to travel and one by one the
missionaries and their families are returning.