# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S68
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— Page 68 —

...lie in the misery of the most dreadful wretchedness, but all this
must only spur us on the more to double our efforts, to hold back the
ruin of sin now breaking in upon them through the preaching of the
Gospel. Only if we no longer had any mission workers left to deploy,
or if our missionaries themselves no longer had the heart to continue
the mission work carried on thus far, would we wish to seek other
fields of activity in God's kingdom. Indeed, several more were
baptized at Bethany in the past years as well, and the 110-year-old
Sarah, according to the missionary's report, fell asleep in
repentance and faith, as likewise did the blessed Isaac. To be sure,
many faithful hearts in the Synod point out that the mission takes up
proportionally too much of the Synod's strength, while the same means
could accomplish more, for instance, in providing for pastorless
congregations in various states of the Union; but in conscience we
can do nothing other than leave to God's governance what our mission
costs. How many hearts in the Synod would sink if they heard that our
mission to the heathen had been abandoned under present
circumstances, when they had, after all, gladly given so that the
mission to the heathen might be upheld. Thanks be hereby given to all
those who have generously and gladly given of their means so that
the Lord's kingdom might also come to the heathen; thanks, heartfelt
thanks, be given to the venerable Mission Society at Nuremberg, which
so lovingly provided, in the past period as well, for the personal
needs of missionary Miessler at Bethany; thanks, finally, be
especially given to the various women's societies in city and
country, who have sacrificed many an hour in service to the poor
heathen and labored for them with diligent hands. May the Lord
strengthen our missionaries, who carry on the work of the mission
under trying circumstances, that they lose neither courage nor
cheerfulness in giving their strength further to the mission. And may
he make all of us more diligent and more fervent in prayer, and more
diligent in giving as well, so that the work of the mission does not
come to a standstill. Amen!

The following was expended for the mission:
1. To missionary Cloeter, through Messrs. Böhlau and
Piepenbrink . . . . . . . . . . . $2,633.52
2. To Philipp and Paulus, Indian boys at Fort Wayne 100.15
3. To missionary Miessler, through Pastor Sievers . 1,689.73
$4,423.40

Currently on hand in the mission treasury is $769.43, of which
$710.03 is in Mr. Böhlau's hands and $59.40 in Pastor Sievers's
hands.

Most respectfully, the above report is signed by the Mission
Commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and
Other States:

Ferdinand Sievers, President,
A. Hügli, —
Ferdinand Böhlau, Treasurer.

Note. Missionary Miessler has, in addition, had the pine timber on
the mission farm cut, which has a net value of about $800.00. The
felling and rafting downriver of the pine logs has caused
considerable expense, but these costs will now be amply recovered,
and a good profit will besides result from it. So we hope.