# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1878_S30
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 30 —

...cheerful stirring and movement, without this degenerating into
coarse and unrestrained behavior.

The number of students has admittedly declined somewhat since the last
Delegate Synod (October 1874); but this was without doubt due mainly
to the very depressed, unprofitable economic times, in which it may
have been too difficult for many parents to raise the annual sum of
$100.00 for those of their sons not intending to devote themselves to
the study of theology. The school year 1874–75 began with 275
students; the following one, 1875–76, with 255; the year 1876–77 with
224; the present one with 225 students.

Despite the smaller number of students, however, the space currently
available at the institution is so limited that its enlargement, as
soon as possible, must be considered. It was only because of the drop
in student numbers that the supervisory board was able to avoid having
to approach the district synods for approval, as required by the
resolution of the Delegate Synod (see the report of 1874, p. 48), to
build the institution's west wing. But since, in the first place, a
larger classroom is lacking, and since, further, three rooms had to be
set aside for the physics cabinet and the teaching materials for
physics and chemistry, the available space today stands at the same
point as at the last Delegate Synod. The living rooms, as well as the
sleeping rooms, are occupied by such a large number of students that
the space must be increased for health's sake. And here, too, it must
be taken into account that the supervisory board had not dared, on
account of the impoverished economic times, to carry out the Synod's
resolution to build teachers' residences, thereby making accessible to
students the part of the College building currently occupied by the
director, and so gaining room for about 30 students to sleep and live.
(See: report of 1874, pp. 47 and 48.)

Since, under the prevailing circumstances — according to which there
is no absolutely pressing necessity this year for adding the
still-missing wing to the College building, and for which the
necessary funds would hardly be raised in any case — the Synod could
not bring itself to order the construction:

Resolved, that building at Fort Wayne be entirely dispensed with this
year, both the addition of the institution's west wing and the
construction of professors' residences. Should these buildings,
however, appear absolutely necessary next year, the district synods
are hereby authorized, upon submission by the General Presidency, to
resolve as is under the circumstances most beneficial for the College
at Fort Wayne.

No small burden of care was placed on the institution by the fact
that, through the mediation of Pastor Brunn, a number of younger
students entered our institution entirely without means. Thus, in the
fall of 1875