# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S404
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

404 MISSIONS

Summary
Number of blind reported by our pastors _ 786
Number of blind who can read embossed type 198 (25%)

(This is “average,” according to government statistics) _
Messenger Readers

In February, 1947, we sent out 1,285 Messengers

We have “possible” Braille readers _ - 181 (14%)

We have “actual” Braille readers 78 ( 6%)

Herald Readers

In February, 1947, we sent out 658 Heralds

We have “possible” Moon readers _- 32 (less than 5%)
We have “actual” Moon readers 0 12 (less than 2%)
Total Magazines ‘

In February, 1947, we sent out -. 1,943 magazines

We have “possible” readers -— 213 (less than 11%)
We have “actual” readers - 90 (less than 5%)

Hence, if only 5 per cent of our magazine readers are of the
Synodical Conference, we have reason to ask, of what faith and
church affiliation are the other 95 per cent? And if, according to
this census, we have 213 blind who can read Braille or Moon, why
is it that we have only 90 “actual” readers? Do not our pastors and
people know of our publications — the Lutheran M essenger
(Braille) and the Lutheran Herald (Moon)? This demands further
investigation.

The Census of the Blind According to Ages and Synodical Affiliation

Ages Missouri Wisconsin Slovak Norwegian A. L. ©, Total
0to 9 18 _ _ — _ 18
10 to 19 41 3 ~ _ 1 45
20 to 29. 42 8 - _ _- 50
30 to 39 45 1 _— _ _ 46
40 to 49 64 5 4 _ _— 73
50 to 59 98 8 1 1 _ 108
60 to 69 96 15 _ 1 _- 112
70 to 79 114 18 2 2 _ 136
80 to 89 113 25 ~ _— _ 138
90 to 99 18 —_ _ 1 _ 19
Incomplete information 41
Total 649 83 7 5 1 786

2. Our Magazines Must Take These Statistics into Consideration

If 95 per cent of our readers are to be regarded as “mission
prospects,” then we must keep this in mind while writing for the
Messenger and the Herald.

a. Write doctrinal and soul-saving articles (evangelism).

b. Urge the blind to go to church. If our readers are in-
terested in the written Word, as taught in the Lutheran Church,
then they surely should be interested also in the spoken Word,
as it is preached in our churches. — The blind, as a rule, can hear,