# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1854_S292
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 292 —

Adoption of the New Synodical Constitution.

Since the division of the Synod into four district synods, closely
joined together into one general Synod, had already been unanimously
resolved at last year's synodical convention in Cleveland, only the
answer to one question now remained: whether this division should now
be carried out on the basis of the new synodical constitution
[Synodal-Verfaſſung] deliberated at that time and adopted subject to
the congregations' consent. To this question, put by the president
[Präſes] to the assembled synodical members, a unanimous "Yes!" was
the answer. — It also became clear from the committee's report before
the convention — the committee charged with examining the
congregations' returns on acceptance or non-acceptance of the new
constitution — that all congregations, including those not represented
here, had agreed to its adoption; even though some had raised certain
reservations, these did not themselves withdraw their consent. Thus
nothing more stood in the way of the long-deliberated division of the
Synod and the election of officers, both for the general body and for
the various district synods, except the serious reservation of a
certain synodical congregation about consenting to the election of a
general president in the sense of the new constitution so long as it was
not assured that adequate provision would be made for his support.
Since this reservation of that congregation had become known some time
before this year's synodical convention, the president had, in a
circular of April 27, called upon all the Synod's pastors to ask their
congregations how much they could contribute annually toward the
general president's support. Most of the synodical congregations had
in response sent in pledges of contributions, stated in specific sums,
for that purpose. Thus this last reservation, too, was removed, and
toward the end of its sessions the Synod could proceed to the election
of officers and standing committees for the general Synod, as well as,
in its respective divisions, to the election of officers for the
respective district synods.

Election of the General President.

The Synod had now progressed far enough in its business and
proceedings to take up and address the preliminary question of the
election of officers for the general Synod. To this end, the duties
of these officers as set out in the new synodical constitution were
first read aloud. — Impressed with the particular importance of the
election of a general president, the Synod called upon, among others,
Professors Walther and Biewend to state their thoughts and views on
the necessary qualities of such a general president, and on the best
manner of the election. Following this call, Prof. Walther showed how
necessary it was that the general president, as it were the center and
representative of the whole Synod, should above all have made wholly
his own the doctrine that the Synod now maintains as its own over
against its enemies; further, that he should possess the gift of
readily securing acceptance for the truth among the congregations; and
further also the gift for reading papers [referiren], since he must be
present at the meetings of the district synods and pastoral conferences
and report on them; and