# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1848_S48
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 48 —

...it recognized as desirable that students receive their final training in
the city, even though the countryside might be preferable for a
preparatory school [Gymnasialanstalt], the question arose whether it
would be practical to divide that institution in such a way that the
preparatory school remain at Altenburg while the theological seminary be
moved to St. Louis.

After extensive discussion of the above question, further consideration of
the matter was left to and recommended to the committee concerned; it
was also resolved to lay the same matter before a congregational meeting
of the St. Louis congregation, to be called in these days, for deliberation.

The committee later submitted the following report, which was adopted
after some changes.

Proposals of the Fourth Committee concerning the Altenburg Institution.

We propose to a Reverend Synod that the Altenburg preparatory school
[Gymnasium] and seminary be moved to St. Louis, because it is very
desirable for the seminarians that they receive their final training under
circumstances in which they have the opportunity to gather general
knowledge of human nature and to learn to move in the various circles of
public and private life.

However suitable country life would be for the preparatory school, still,
since the St. Louis congregation has opened up considerable resources for
the support of professors, the following reasons speak for uniting this
institution with the seminary at St. Louis:

1. The costs of erecting and maintaining the buildings are simplified.

2. The teachers' strengths can complement one another.

3. The seminarians have the opportunity to continue their language study.

4. The situation of the land assigned by the St. Louis congregation for the
relocated institution somewhat replaces the advantages of country life for
the preparatory-school students.

5. The benefit that arises because, through the existence of a college here,
scholarly education in general is furthered.

6. The danger that, with the two institutions physically separated, different
directions [of teaching] might arise in them.

7. The determination of whether a pupil is ready to be sent to St. Louis
would often cause displeasure on the part of the parents.

The committee holds that a constitution for this institution should not be
drawn up until the professorship of theology there has been filled and the
institution is already somewhat established in St. Louis.

The committee proposes, however, that the same board of oversight and
the same electoral college be appointed for this institution as for the Fort
Wayne institute, except that the fourth member of the board of oversight
be chosen from among the hearers of the St. Louis congregation.

Mission to the Heathen [Heidenmission].

The Commission for the Mission to the Heathen submitted the following
paper to the synod, in which it develops and recommends a plan to found
a mission colony in the Oregon Territory, and reports on its correspondence
with mission friends abroad and on the state of the Frankenmuth mission.