# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1853_S266
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 266 —

[continuing Professor Walther's teaching load:] a synopsis of the first
three Gospels, hermeneutics, Christian antiquities, catechetics and
homiletics — the latter two combined with practical exercises. Hebrew
was taught by Rector Gönner, in which the following biblical books were
read and expounded: the first book of Moses, portions of the historical
books, selected passages in Isaiah and the Psalms, and the Gospels in
Hebrew translation.

Professor Biewend taught the philosophical disciplines in the seminary,
excluding logic, which was taught by Professor Walther. Further: an
introduction to the New Testament, exposition of the Epistle to the
Ephesians, physics, the English language, the history of English
literature, and excerpts from English writers, combined with
compositions in English.

In the Gymnasium the following subjects were taught: by Professor
Walther — religion, declamation, penmanship, music and singing along
with prosody; by Rector Gönner — Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and biblical
and Reformation history. In Greek, the Gospels, Acts, and Xenophon were
read. In Latin: Cicero, taught by Professor Biewend; Greek and Latin
grammar, exercises from Jacobs' reader and from Bröder, Cornelius
Nepos, German grammar after Bauer, English grammar after Smith,
mathematics, geography, and general history. In addition, Professor
Biewend set up a special English department for American young men, to
which two hours daily were devoted.

Since, given this accumulation of subjects, the teaching staff is
obviously too small, the Synod has resolved to appoint a second teacher
of theology in the seminary as soon as a suitable man can be found. (The
Synod has instructed the Election Committee to try to win Licentiate
Ströbel of Zeitz for this position.) The oversight board is also to
examine carefully whether, under present circumstances, it is truly
necessary to appoint a second Gymnasium teacher as well. (At Pastor
Schieferdecker's request, Pastors Bünger and Fick are to be called in
for this inquiry in his place.) The oversight board is further charged
with revising the seminary's constitution and proposing the changes
needed to remove certain ambiguities found in it, and with presenting
its work at next year's convention of the Synod.

Pastor Schieferdecker was unable to carry out his assignment of
attending the examination at Concordia College, because he received
word of the examination's date too late; but according to the testimony
of others who were present, it turned out satisfactorily.

The teachers carry out their office diligently.

The Gymnasium now numbers 20 students, the seminary 7 — after 6 were
released from the seminary last Easter, of whom 5, having passed their
examination, proceeded to candidacy and have already entered pastoral
offices (G. Volk, C. Metz, M. Günther, O. Eißfeldt, and M. Stephan). The
remaining one, Theodor Gruber, will not take his examination until a
year from now, and in the meantime intends to continue his studies under
the guidance of his father, whom he was to assist in the school. In
place of these 6 who have left, those 7 named above have now moved up
into the seminary, while 4 new students entered the College. All the
students, except for 3, now live at the institution and find, in the
newly erected building, ...