# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S67
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— Page 67 —

...though the initial establishment of the station certainly required
larger sums, missionary Cloeter writes that its present holdings can
be maintained with only a few hundred dollars a year, so long as
nothing unusual occurs, since many products needed for the household
are grown on the farm itself. The missionary also hopes that during
the quiet winter season he will be able to make considerable progress
in the Indian language.

The undersigned Mission Commission most respectfully proposes to the
Reverend Synod that it reach a decision on the further continuation
of the Gabitawigama station, and advises that Pastor Cloeter be
given, if at all possible, a second missionary who can vigorously
assist him in both internal and external matters. We cannot advise
letting the station lapse. Should it not be possible or practicable
to send missionary Cloeter a second missionary to help him, then the
station should be allowed to continue under his sole direction until
God either grants us capable help in the now-grown Heinrich Cramer,
or raises up some other capable man.

The two Indian boys, Paulus and Philipp, who were sent some years ago
from Bethany to Fort Wayne to be prepared there for teaching among
their own people, both made very good progress over several years.
One of them, Paulus, has unfortunately run away and now wanders
around the Detroit and St. Clair area among strange Indians, evading
every attempt by missionary Miessler to seek him out and lead him
back to repentance and a godly life. The other boy, Philipp, gives
his teachers much joy and continues to make good progress. He has
completely mastered the German language, so that he reads and writes
German fluently and even thinks in German. He recently renewed his
practice in the Indian language during an extended visit he paid to
his mother at Bethany, but afterward returned gladly and willingly to
his life at Fort Wayne.

Returning now to the beginning of our report, we cannot fail to
thank God the Lord that he has counted us worthy, over this past
three-year period, to carry on his work among the heathen of this
land. The Indians of America have, indeed, grown especially dear to
our hearts, and among them especially the Chippewa, who live nearest
to us. Of results that would be outwardly visible we cannot speak,
given what has been said; rather, we must fear that the Bethany
Indians have fallen back. The evil influences of the whites
surrounding them on all sides have contributed to this; yet lovely
elements are still present among them, which ought to be nurtured.
For instance, when missionary Miessler, on one of his visiting
journeys among the Indians who had moved away from him into the new
Isabella County, entered the hut of a widow named Rebecca, she wept
tears of joy — and these tears of joy were not for his own person,
but for the word of God that he brought her. Missionary Miessler had
likewise already heard earlier, from some of his Indians, when their
departure for Isabella County was under discussion, that they would
be glad if he himself would move there with them. — Of the Chippewa
Indians of Minnesota we have had to say above that they have sunk
even further than the Bethany Indians...