# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1872_S109
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 109 —

The "Abendschule" [Evening School, a periodical].

The preparatory committee also reported on the "Abendschule" published by
Mr. Lange, as follows:

Since a report from Mr. Lange on the matter was on hand, as well as a
letter from the congregation in Fort Wayne, the synodical committee chose
a deputation from its own number to discuss this matter personally with
Mr. Lange and to examine his conduct of business, insofar as it concerns
the Synod; and this deputation has now reported that, so far as it has
been able to examine the matter, it believes the net profit received from
the promised subscribers amounts to roughly $3100.00. Since Mr. Lange had
been under the impression that he was released, by the agreement
concluded with the Synod in the fall of 1869, from his promise given in
the "Lutheraner" at the start of March of that same year — a promise by
which he had declared himself willing and ready to establish and manage a
printing house for the Synod free of charge* — and since, further, the
Synod unfortunately neither settled anything about its now-altered
relationship to Mr. Lange at its convention that year, nor indeed
expressed itself on the matter at all, the synodical committee believes
that the resulting awkward situation might best be resolved in a
Christian manner if the Synod credited the net profit of roughly
$3100.00 presumably due it to Mr. Lange, as a salary subsequently granted
for his services rendered in the Synod's printing house.

Regarding an offer from Mr. Lange, whereby he is willing, should the
Synod wish it, to turn over in future a third of the "Abendschule"'s net
profit to our synodical treasury, the synodical committee can only advise
accepting it, but recommends at the same time, in this case, that a
carefully and properly drawn-up contract be drafted on the matter, in
which the Synod's right regarding the appointment of the editor would
also be secured, and that a copy of it be placed both in Mr. Lange's
hands and in the hands of the relevant synodical officers.

This report was adopted unanimously by the Synod.

The agent's salary.

Resolved: that the salary of the agent, Mr. Barthels, be set by the
directorate for the printing house and book trade.

* As appears from the report of the treasurer of the synodical printing
house, Mr. L. Lange made no use of the free printing of his "Abendschule,"
but instead paid both for printing and for rent.