# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1851_S173
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 173 —

of people, this power and effect will show itself differently. For
those who already have regeneration, holy baptism will confirm and
strengthen this grace; just as absolution confirms the forgiveness of
sins for those who already have it beforehand.

Home Missions.

The resolution made at the previous convention, to appoint two
colporteurs in New York and New Orleans, had not yet been able to be
carried out for lack of suitable persons; the Synod does not, however,
abandon this plan, but urgently impresses it on the heart of every one
of its members to call earnestly on God to raise up people for this
purpose too who, equipped with courageous faith and self-denying love,
will make the rescue of the German fellow believers landing on our
shores their blessed task. Pastor Brohm's proposal to appoint a trained
candidate for this purpose, for whose support he, with the cooperation
of his congregation, would provide, if only the Synod would bear the
cost of a place for preaching and living for him, was gratefully
acknowledged; but since no such candidate was presently available, no
resolution could be passed on this motion.

Since the distribution of Christian writings and tracts belongs to the
field of home missions, this is perhaps the place to draw the attention
of the dear brothers of our Synodical body to the Synod's resolution, by
which the writings published in future by the Synod are to be left with
its members, on account, for further distribution, and the money taken
in is to be delivered by them at each annual convention. The observation
that sales, especially of those writings which presuppose a more mature
understanding and deeper interest in Christian truth, have on the whole
been small up to now prompted the Synod to advise the pastors of its
body to awaken the congregations' interest in such writings — for
example, Luther's Letter to the Bohemians — by first instructing their
hearers in the truths concerned, vividly presenting to them their
importance and their influence on Christian life. Small wonder that,
where pastors are remiss in this respect, the congregations' interest
lies dormant. A proposal submitted in writing by a member of the Synod,
to reprint Luther's anti-papal writings, could not be acted on, partly
for lack of means, partly for lack of any expressed need; in this
respect Luther's Letter to the Bohemians was said to be sufficient for
the time being, since it is precisely in this work that he dealt
Catholicism its most crushing blow.

Missions to the Heathen.

The following report was submitted by the Mission Committee to this
year's Synodical convention:

"Looking back over the past year, we have been abundantly touched, as
regards our precious mission concern, with both joy and sorrow by God's
gracious hand. Yet, praise God, we can say that our sorrow, too, has
been turned into joy. Let us first call to mind the affliction that came
upon us from God last autumn.