# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S38
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

38   Proceedings of the 19th General [Synod], or

more serious cases was nevertheless spared us, even though, given a
piece of damage to the building whose repair had to wait for a
favorable season, given the overcrowding of the institution, and given
the makeshift arrangements that had to be made in the greatest haste at
the last moment to provide space for last winter, our hearts were often
anxious for the health of our students; and, finally, that instruction
continued without interruption, since no gap arose in the teaching
faculty [*Lehrercollegium*] through either death or a call elsewhere —
the faculty having rather been increased — and likewise that, despite
the failing health of Prof. Crämer and Prof. Wyneken, no temporary
suspension of instruction in their respective subjects was allowed to
occur; indeed, Prof. Crämer was even able, during the last vacation, to
additionally prepare 10 students for an examination in the fall, since the
number of this past year's graduates from both theological institutions
fell far short of providing even substantial relief for the most glaring
shortage of preachers on our ever-expanding mission fields, even
though a number of second- and also third-class students had to be
repeatedly given over to serve as vicars.

" . . . Counting from its first beginnings, it is now going on 40
years that, for the advancement of the work of home missions in this
land of colonization, the practical theological seminary has existed and
has, since then, been conducted according to its particular task, even
though, in the course of time, higher demands had to be made on the
training of its students. Mindful now of the great host of preachers who
have since gone out from this institution to the great blessing of the
American Lutheran Church and especially of our Synod, and mindful
that, whereas a few years ago it appeared as though this institution
might gradually become almost entirely dispensable, it has, as a result
of the renewed increase in immigration and the expansion of our
northern and northwestern mission fields, become downright
indispensable for the present, and will most likely remain indispensable
for a long time to come — may the Reverend Synod, therefore, take up
its continued care with the utmost zeal. Commending this nursery here
to your fervent intercession, we conclude by expressing our request for
a twofold help:

"We ask, first, that you continue to send the institution many —
if possible even more — young men for training for the holy
preaching office, while, however, recommending for admission to
the institution only those of whose sufficient aptitude, and still
more of whose Christian character, one has become sufficiently
convinced, since it is only through such people that a service is done to
the church, while the institution suffers harm through even a merely
temporary stay of persons of doubtful character in particular.