# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1852_S220
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 220 —

2.

Pastor Dulitz, who endorses the letter of his new congregation just
mentioned, expresses along with it the wish that the Synod do something
to remove the misunderstandings prevailing over lay prayer between
Pastors Fürbringer, Lochner, and Dulitz and their congregations on the
one hand, and Pastor Geyer and his congregation on the other. After a
few further explanations on this matter were requested and given, the
Synod resolved that the *Präses* should travel to Milwaukee for this
purpose after the close of the sessions.

On that occasion a letter is also to be drawn up by the *Präses*,
together with the other pastors in Wisconsin, to Pastor Besser at
Seefeld near Colberg in Pomerania — who in a letter has complained
bitterly about the discord among the Lutherans on this side [i.e. in
America].

Rhythmic Chant.

The Altenburg Conference had submitted a petition to the Synod in which
it asks that the Synod, taking into account the concerns that have
arisen here and there over the introduction of the original manner of
singing, publish a thorough opinion on rhythmic chant, giving in it not
only a historical account of the matter but also addressing the various
objections to its introduction. Since, however, such an opinion could
not be provided to the brethren given the short duration of our
synodical convention and the lack of the necessary resources, Pastor
Schaller was charged with writing an article on this subject for the
*Lutheraner* after the Synod's close, in which the wishes of the
Altenburg Conference should be taken into account as far as possible.

The Seminary at Fort Wayne. [printed in the source heading as "Fort
Wahne" — a compositor's misspelling; the body text below correctly reads
"Fort Wayne"]

The question was put to the Synod for deliberation: whether it might not
be necessary to raise the Fort Wayne seminary to a higher level, to set
the goal of its students' training further ahead, and accordingly to
lengthen their period of study, etc. The great services this institution
had rendered in training so many capable young men were gladly
acknowledged, but it was felt that, since the time of the first and
greatest need had passed, it was also a duty to give the students more,
at least in a formal respect — namely and at least to help them toward a
knowledge of the Latin language and thereby toward a better and fuller
understanding of the old ecclesiastical literature; and likewise to
pursue other subjects more diligently alongside Latin, such as history,
geography, the English language, and so on. The concern as to whether
this would not violate the seminary's constitution, according to which
it was to be an institution for the most rapid possible training of
preachers, etc., faded away upon closer consideration, and so the
resolution was adopted: to establish a *Proseminar* in which those
subjects should be pursued, chiefly to the exclusion of theology.

The Synod resolved to use the proceeds from the building lots donated to
us in Dayton toward establishing the *Proseminar*.

A committee was also appointed to confer with the German and English
citizens in and around Fort Wayne, to see whether it would be possible
to establish a college or gymnasium [preparatory school] there, in
which...