# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S1116
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MISSIONS

Mission Te express our gratitude to the L
which have helped te Pearbaanel 8roups, both national and District
ough generous contributions, work of our missions to the deaf

Commi |
ommittee 2 recommended, and Synod resolved:

utheran Women’s

Resolution 30

INITIATING DEAF MISSION WORK IN

MISSIONS . 441

ary, the Rev. Walter H. Storm, has attended several meetings
superintendents of State. schools and workers among the
wd to observe their approach to blind people. Of especial in-
+ was the meeting of Braille transcribers recently held in

Washington, D.C., giving us a far better understanding of the

igianner in which this work should be done, with more consideration
being given to the Braille readers than to the volunteer workers
awho: desire to give their time for this noble purpose. The expe-
wriences gained through these conferences should mean much in
making a greater impact upon those in need of the Word and
who have not been served by our Church to date.

‘Shortly after the last convention the 25th anniversary of our
work among the blind was observed in a large number of the
congregations of our Synod. For this observance a_ historical
pamphlet was prepared, and over 50,000 Braille alphabet cards

. were distributed to those requesting the same. Results were most

gratifying through the response of many individuals, unsolicited
contributions, and requests for services to the blind.

After the anniversary the German Braille Bote was again put
into publication. The first issue was published in some 300 copies
and was sent out from Marburg, Germany, prior to Christmas,
1950. It is a quarterly publication and as coeditor with Pastor
O. C. Schroeder of Chicago we have Pastor Heinrich Huebner of
our Lutheran Church in Frankfurt, Germany, who has been
showing a deep interest in this work. Since the first issue ap~
peared, the subscription of the Bote has grown to 472, with a slight
increase being reflected each month.

Early in 1951 the old hymnal in Braille was supplanted with
a new edition consisting, to begin with, of 100 of the most-sung
hymns of our Church. It is prepared in a loose-leaf edition so that
the blind can either take the individual sheets with them to church,
affording them the opportunity to sing with the congregation, or
making it possible for a larger edition later as demands may
be made.

In January of 1952 the Library for the Blind was moved from
Chicago to the Lutheran Building in St. Louis. At that time the
Board engaged Mrs. M. Bruenig to work in the Library on a part-
time basis. After eight months the volume of work so increased
that she was employed full time. The Board is happy to report that
Mrs. Bruenig has learned to read Braille and is able to operate the
Braille typewriter, and so has increased her value to the work
tremendously. During the last year the number of blind readers
who regularly use the services of the Library has more than
tripled, from 40 to over 178. As a result the Library has added
more books.