# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1853_S263
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 263 —

...founded first, since the local chief Noktschikeme has so far not been
won over to Christianity, and he influences the whole tribe.

Since 1851 Missionary Mießler was sent to assist Pastor Baierlein, and
since then both have worked eagerly toward being able to instruct the
Indians without the help of an interpreter, and toward giving them a
primer, reader, and the Bible in their own language. Already last year
Missionary Baierlein compiled an Indian primer, containing exercises in
reading words of one to seven syllables along with accompanying reading
pieces, an outline of the biblical histories of the Old and New
Testaments, a selection of hymns translated by the missionary, such as:
"Die helle Sonn' leucht' jetzt herfür" [The bright sun now shines forth],
etc.; "Der du bist drei in Einigkeit" [Thou who art three in unity],
etc.; "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" [From Heaven Above to Earth I
Come]; "HErr Jesu Christ, dein theures Blut" [Lord Jesus Christ, Thy
Precious Blood]; "O Lamm Gottes unschuldig" [O Innocent Lamb of God];
"Schaff' in mir, Gott, ein reines Herz" [Create in Me, O God, a Clean
Heart]; "Halt im Gedächtniß Jesum Christ" [Keep in Memory Jesus Christ];
"Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund" [I Sing to Thee with Heart and Voice];
"Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, deinem Worte," etc. [Blessed Jesus, at
Thy Word]; "Mitten wir im Leben sind" [In the Midst of Life We Are]; "Wer
weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende" [Who Knows How Near Is My End]; and
others, sung to their proper tunes — together with the Ten Commandments,
the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Luther's morning and evening prayers, and
a collect. This primer he had printed in Detroit, and he already has the
great joy that individuals — especially a young man named Johannes (who
was present at this convention) — can read the New Testament, and that
many of the younger ones are practicing singing the hymns. This same
Johannes shows the aptitude to be trained as a teacher.

Until now English had been the medium, but recently Missionary
Baierlein has been able to deliver, in the Indian language itself,
sermons that had previously been prepared with the interpreter's help.
Besides the language skill already mentioned, Pastor Baierlein
distinguished himself by a special gift for leadership — a gift almost
indispensable in dealing with the Indians. It is therefore easy to
imagine that his recall was consented to only reluctantly and with
great resistance, after the Indian congregation too, with nearly
breaking hearts, had submitted itself to God's will.

It would have been very desirable to call, in Missionary Baierlein's
place, a man specially trained for the mission and proven in office; the
President of the Mission Commission therefore sought to win Pastor
Diehlmann for this, but did not succeed, and so the choice fell instead
on Missionary Mießler, who, however, would still need to be given an
assistant.

It would be good to acquaint the Indians of Sheboyank — who are being
hemmed in on all sides and thereby may be driven toward emigrating —
with the Indians of Bethanien, and to move them to join that
congregation; the two stations could then be united into a single
parish with a single pastor, while the remaining ministerial personnel,
perhaps together with trained Indian pupils, could be used for a mission
among the thousands of Indians speaking the same language who live in
Minnesota. The Mission Commission recommends that the missionaries
diligently study the Indian language, asks the Synod to send detailed
reports to the Leipzig College, and gives thanks for gifts received.

In consideration of all this, and of whatever else was reported by the
present missionaries, the Synod resolved: