# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1853_S264
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 264 —

1. To ordain Missionary Mießler in place of Missionary Baierlein at
Bethanien (through the president, who is to travel there after the
convention) and to assign Missionary Röder to him as an assistant.

2. That Pastor Baierlein, together with Mr. J. H. Bergmann, after
receiving instructions, enlarge the Bethanien station by purchasing
300–400 acres of land on both sides of the river, and do so as soon as
possible, so that the converted Indians there cannot be crowded in by
the Americans and forced to emigrate. The roughly $500–600 needed to
purchase the land shall be raised through collections, and the purchase
price later owed by solvent Indians for the shares allotted to them
shall be credited to the Mission treasury.

3. So that the mission stations and their leaders can be better
advised, the Mission Commission shall henceforth consist of members who
live in Michigan.

4. Pastor Baierlein has written a chronicle of Bethanien, which shall be
printed in the *Lutheraner* for readers' information. More detailed
mission reports are to be sent from time to time by the President of the
Mission Commission to Germany and to the *Lutheraner*.

5. The missionaries are to diligently study the Indian language, and
with wisdom — perhaps through the mediation of the Christian Indians —
work toward having the Sheboyangk Indians resettle at Bethanien.

6. The mission pupil Johannes is recommended to the missionaries for
preparation for mission work among his own people.

Thanks are given to the missionaries, especially Pastor Baierlein, for
their zeal in the Lord's work.

The treasury reports have been handed over to the Synodal Treasurer for
careful examination.

Note. — The detailed report submitted by the President of the Mission
Commission on this matter shall be published in the *Lutheraner*.

Colporteur.

Since the autumn of last year, Mr. Pfau has traveled exclusively through
the state of Wisconsin, which, once he completes his current journey, he
will by now probably have crossed in every direction. That Wisconsin was
assigned to him as the field of his initial activity is nothing we need
regret; for not only is German immigration into this state exceedingly
large, with its influence on public life already strongly felt, but our
Church especially has a future among the masses of Prussian Lutherans
who are already beginning, spreading out from Milwaukee, to settle this
state to the west and north. To be sure, these people at present, as a
result of old and new disputes, present a picture of the most pitiable
disunity; nevertheless they can still become excellent material for
building up the Church, if the sound, wholesome doctrine is preached
among them more and more, and the right, sound evangelical practice is
exercised. The experience gained since our synod began its work gives
grounds for the hope that everything unsound, falsely pietistic, and
separatistic...