# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S39
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Fifth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1887. 39

Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Ind.

"In the Instructions for the Boards of Control of the educational
institutions of the General Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, it is
made their duty to report to the Synod at its every convention on the
condition of the institution concerned in every respect. In discharging
this duty, the Board of Control of Concordia College at Fort Wayne, Ind.,
is pleased to be able to report predominantly good things about the
condition of the College.

"The most important thing to be reported on is without doubt the
moral condition of an institution. As to this, your Board of Control can
again this time call upon the Reverend Synod for praise and thanks to
God. It is true that this school year, through the resignation of the office
of the outgoing Director, Mr. R. Bischoff, and his return to the pastoral
ministry, the directorship has again — for the fourth time since this
institution's relocation from St. Louis to Ft. Wayne 25 years ago —
become vacant, and could not be filled again even up to now. But the
Faculty divided among themselves not only the teaching hours left open
by the departure of the previous Director, but also his particular special
duties. And as for the conduct of the students in class hours and work
hours, toward their teachers and toward one another, inside and outside
the institution, it was in general such that, instead of complaining, we
have reason to rejoice and to thank God that He has to this point
remained with His grace at this institution of ours as well. Indeed, when
we consider that our pupils are children of our congregations, and that
in most congregations, as far as life and earnestness in sanctification are
concerned, things are among the young generally not moving forward
but rather backward, we cannot praise God enough that precisely in
recent times a greater earnestness has shown itself among the young
people of this institution. May the LORD preserve and strengthen this,
and continue to rule with His grace over this nursery of our Synod! May
He also preserve in our Synod a heartfelt love, faithful care, and fervent
intercession for this so important institution.

"Also as regards the state of health of the students of this institution
we can report only gratifying things. Among the large number of
students — in the school year 1884–'85 the number of students was 172,
in the school year 1885–'86 it was 171, and this year it is 162 — no
serious illnesses have broken out during the last three-year period, and
not a single death has occurred. The Board of Control of the College
here has, indeed, so far been the only one to give a regular, exact report
on the state of health. Since the institution's relocation from St. Louis to
Ft. Wayne, in the year 1861,