# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1852_S217
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 217 —

...offers, and contains an appendix of a few prayers and hymns. It is to
be printed as soon as possible.

The needs of the Bethany station, which for the current half-year will
be quite similar to those of the past half-year, have already, together
with the missionaries' needs, been amply covered by the esteemed
administrative committee of the Protestant Central Mission Society for
Bavaria at Nuremberg, through the remittance of $394.66, so that the
synodical treasury need make no expenditure for this station.

The Shiboyangk station, according to the report of Missionary Auch. —
The past year was a year of manifold struggle, both from within and from
without. The fanatics [*Schwärmer* — enthusiasts/sectarians], every one
of them, would have driven out the Lutheran mission long ago if it had
been up to them. But the Lord lives, and although the enemies have
resolved on many a plan, He who dwells in heaven has not yet said Yes to
it; their schemes have been put to shame, and some of them have already
fallen into the pit they dug for others. But it is not only from
fanatics that we have had to suffer great distress and slander, but also
and especially from our former interpreter, who, worked upon by the
former mission assistant Sinke, slandered us in every way possible and
sought to win our congregation back over to his side. To both of these,
however, the words of Joseph apply, where he says: "You meant evil
against me, but God meant it for good." What our enemies had intended
for our disgrace has turned out for the advancement of the Gospel. Glory
to God for it! Tested through affliction and suffering, our Indians have
grown more courageous, more grounded, and more joyful, and we hold to
the confident assurance in God that He will not rest until He has
completed His work through such weak instruments as we are. — Among the
Sibiwaing Indians too, signs of hope have again become visible in recent
times, and the wish has repeatedly been voiced, even by the chief grown
gray in sin, that the Gospel might again be proclaimed to them from time
to time. Individual ones of them come now and then to Shiboyangk for
church. May the day of salvation soon dawn for them. Let us therefore
call earnestly upon God for this.

The needs of the station will amount to somewhat more than $200,
according to the budget already sent to the president of the Mission
Commission.

The Church Colony in California.

Professor Walther communicated a passage from a letter of Pastor Löhe,
in which the latter reports that Pastor Fleischmann and Mr. Vonetti are
about to go to America, to work among the German fellow believers here
and those emigrating from there to California, and to pave the way for
the founding of a colonists' congregation in California, etc.; they
would first come to St. Louis for this purpose and place themselves
under the direction of our Synod. It was noted how important this could
also become for our mission to the heathen, since not only the German
emigrants to California, but also the large number of Chinese
immigrating there, call for our attention and pastoral care — which is
why, with this latter concern also in view, it would be desirable to
found a colonists' congregation there, in order to...