# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1850_S134
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 134 —

adorned, which can already be seen from a great distance on Lake Huron and from
Saginaw Bay. Building a dwelling house
is urgently necessary, as is fencing the mission land, which
would cost about $20.00. It is said that next spring
ten more persons are expected from Canada at this station.

The interpreter's name is Jakob Graverath, who performs his office to the
satisfaction of the missionaries and at least strives to be faithful.

Across the bay, on the Soble River, seven families still live who
are, however, so given over to the vice of drunkenness that the missionary's
efforts with them have so far been in vain. On the Occrai River there
lived 50–60 Indians who had already asked our missionaries for a teacher
and showed themselves very receptive to the Gospel. Unfortunately,
they have now been led astray into Methodism and for the greater part
have already moved away. Only twenty Indians remained faithful, whom our
missionaries have advised to move to Shiboyangk.

3. Bethanien [Bethany].

As a letter from Missionary Baierlein of September 18 shows,
he was unfortunately sick and bedridden for ten uninterrupted days. Since
his health is generally very unstable, the Mission Commission
proposes to the venerable Synod that he be given an assistant.

The congregation there has had, since New Year 1850, a gratifying
increase of eight baptized persons, namely seven adults and one boy.
A Roman Catholic person is currently receiving instruction. About
15–20 Indians attend worship services, 8–10 attend as schoolchildren, though
often there were only 2–3. Methodists and liquor dealers exert
a most ruinous influence on the poor Indians.

Budget for the half-year from July 1, 1850, to
January 1, 1851.

Sibiwaing and Shiboyangk $320.00, Bethanien $200.00, Franken-
muth (with 7–8 schoolchildren, who will soon be taught from the proceeds
of the mission land there) $80.00.

The Commission recommends to the venerable Synod that the $200.00
borrowed from the Synod's treasury be lent to the Mission treasury for a while longer.

It recommends to the congregations of our association that they also support
our mission with articles of clothing for the Indian children.

It advises the future president [*Präses*, chairman] of the Mission Commission to maintain
a diligent and brotherly correspondence with the missionaries, to answer
their reports faithfully, and thereby to encourage them in their difficult
office.

It recommends most urgently to the venerable Synod the support of
the Lutheran congregation in Saginaw City, so that it may be put in a position
to build its own small church. For it is there that the Indians
are paid their annuities, so it would be of the greatest importance
for our mission if a Lutheran congregation were established there,
because it could exercise the most beneficial influence on the Indians.