# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1878_S57
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— p. 57 —

...to lay this on the congregations' hearts, to dispel any prejudices, and
to encourage our dear Christians to help, each for his part, through
diligent giving of charitable gifts, so that the misery and want of such
poor widows and orphans may be relieved.

Support of Sick or Infirm Pastors and Schoolteachers.

This matter, too, rests on the charitable activity of our
congregations. Since no special society has organized itself to carry it
on, the Synod already laid down some guiding principles in 1872 to bring
some order to the matter. It elected a committee consisting of Pastors
Bünger and Brohm and the General Treasurer, into whose hands it gave the
administration of this matter. It further determined that the fund for
these support payments should stand under the direction of the Synod, and
that the General Präses [president], together with the district
presidents, should decide who is to be supported and who is to be regarded
as emeritus (infirm with age).

From this fund, since March 15, 1875, four sick pastors and one
infirm pastor — an old man past 80 — have been supported at a cost of
$1160.00. But since the income amounted to only $1143.94, the fund now
has a debt of $16.06.

In 1873, charitable persons bequeathed 10 acres of land near
Burlington, Iowa, to our Synod on the condition that a charitable
institution be built on this land. The idea was to found an asylum for
such infirm or sick pastors and schoolteachers who otherwise have no home,
and the 10 acres of land were accepted gratefully with the thought of
founding a home for them there. Construction of a building was to be
undertaken, and building stone was hauled in. A good well was also dug
and fruit trees were planted. But because the fund was thereby exhausted,
construction of the building had to stop, and the land was leased under
the oversight of Mr. J. Schmeiſer, a pastor of the Illinois Synod, with
the proviso that the rent money be used for building the house. About
400 dollars have already flowed into the building fund by this means and
stand ready for the construction.

On the occasion of this discussion, the General Presidium informed
the Synod that a member of one of our congregations in Chicago had
offered to found an asylum for infirm or sick pastors and schoolteachers
at any place in the United States that might be desired, and, for its
upkeep, to purchase under certain circumstances 1000 to 2000 acres of
land and bequeath it to the Synod.