# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1853_S245
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 245 —

— of knowledge, of a godly life, and of the love that proves itself active
in good works. The willingness and grateful joy with which reminders —
made, where here and there needed, with the earnestness and kindness of
brotherly love — were given and received by all the brothers without
exception testified both to their heartfelt humility and to the earnest zeal
with which they sought to keep faithfully to their official duties. The
president can report equally gladdening things about the congregations
he visited and the fellow ministers serving them. He cannot, however,
refrain from especially highlighting here the self-denying and enduring
love and faithfulness of our dear brother Claus, as well as the zeal and
steadfastness of his congregation, which has remained faithful to the
Word of God and our Church under heavy trials. The honored brothers
already know from the "Lutheraner" how God's Word brought about a
split in the Neu-Melle congregation; the far smaller portion of those who
remained faithful was shamefully robbed of the church property; and
after they had, with great self-sacrifice, purchased another piece of land
and, neglecting their much-needed fieldwork, erected a substantial new
church building, and had also made arrangements to build a parsonage,
the church was set on fire by a criminal hand and burned completely to
ashes. But thank God! The courage of the dear congregation was by no
means broken; rather, as befits brave Christians, it was only further
kindled. In a very short time a new little church — this time, to be sure,
only of rough logs, without floor or ceiling — stood on the site of the fire,
and the reporter had the honor and joy of being permitted to take part in
the dedication of this house of God, which, though unimpressive in the
eyes of the world, stands all the more gloriously in the eyes of God and
his saints. Through our congregations' eager rivalry in actively showing
their esteem and sympathy for the dear brothers, they have almost
already been put in a position to erect a more substantial church
building, thereby furnishing proof that, by God's grace, the devil and his
companions must only help to display the power of the Word and its
fruit before the eyes of the world as well — if only the world would learn
to open its eyes and see.

VI. Colporteur.

Our colporteur, Mr. Gustav Pfau, has labored actively and with
blessing, particularly in Wisconsin. The publication of his reports has
so far been prevented by special circumstances. What has been
neglected so far will, God willing, be made up without delay after the
close of the Synod.

VII. Missions to the Heathen.

On this matter I refer the Synod to the report that the relevant
committee will give on it. Through the calling away of our very active
brother Baierlein to the Lutheran mission field in the East Indies, our
mission here faces a keenly felt loss, which may the Lord, in his goodness
and wisdom, see fit to replace; but may his richest blessing also continue
to accompany our dear brother Baierlein in his future work.