# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S885
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS . 385

earch group, and the two free Churches have asked that a pro- bj
_fessor from our faculty in St. Louis be loaned to them as a leader °
of the new faculty. Because of the difficulty of securing building
“materials the school will not be able to open until the fall term
“in October. However, the Free Churches have asked us to help
not only in the establishment of this school but also in bearing
the running expenses. The need for properly trained pastors is
a basic requirement of any mission policy.
The Saxon Free Church has established a committee for Lu-
theran literature. It is the duty of this committee to produce for Li,
_mass consumption suitable tracts and pamphlets which can be used
in the mission program of their Church, It is also to be their
task to supply pastors in Germany with ‘suitable Lutheran theo-
* Jogical literature, of which there is a great dearth at the present
time owing primarily to the paper shortage. The periodical Der
Laitheraner is produced under the auspices of this committee. The
Church itt Germany has a right to look to us for support of this
program.

The problem of mission work among the refugees has already |
been touched upon. Owing to the breakdown of communications in
Germany, the transportation problem creates colossal difficulties.
It will therefore be necessary to find ways and means of furnishing
transportation either by motorcycle, bicycle, or automobile for the
pastors who are engaged in this work. i
In conclusion we might quote from an appeal of Pastor P. H. .
Petersen, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of i.
Saxony: “If we in the Free Church endeavor to maintain our
financial independence, we are nevertheless convinced that we
cannot solve the great problems of real mission work by our own
means. If mission work is to be done by us in greater measure
through literature, through mission work among the refugees, then ;
it is naturally impossible for us to finance this work from our own i I.
resources, and we are dependent upon the help of the brethren Di
in America. How much exactly is necessary for the carrying out
of this work cannot be determined at the present time. If God
should grant the grace to establish complete church fellowship
with the Breslau Free Church, then the amount of subsidy dare
not be set too low. ... I wanted to write this to you in general,
but hope soon to give particulars to your Board about the help
which you can give us.”

B. France
The Lutheran Church has existed in France from early Refor-
mation days. The first adherents of the Reformation were found
in Strasbourg soon after 1517. The Lutheran Church was con-
fined mainly to Alsace, which at that time was still a part of the
Proceedings, 1947 25