# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S42
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

42 Proceedings of the 20th General or

The Concordia Progymnasium at Milwaukee, Wis.

"Whereas the District Synods of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota-
Dakota resolved, at their conventions last year, to offer the Evangelical
Lutheran Concordia Progymnasium at Milwaukee, Wis., to a Reverend
General Synod for it to take over, with the wish that a Reverend General
Synod expand the said institution into a full Gymnasium [college-
preparatory school], the undersigned ask a Reverend Synod to be
pleased to set a time at which this matter could be taken up for further
discussion.

H. Wunder.
H. Sprengeler.
Fr. Sievers."
(Presidents of the Districts concerned.)

At the time set by the Synod for discussing this matter, and after the
reading of a lengthy memorandum drawn up in favor of the matter and
addressed to the Synod, the Synod took up deliberation on the subject.
The Synod thought it advisable to consider the two points named in the
petition — the taking over of the Progymnasium, and its expansion into
a full Gymnasium — separately from one another, although with regard
to both points the Synod had been left to consider quite earnestly
whether we need more candidates for the preaching ministry than we
have so far been able to supply; and, if that be the case, whether we
should then strengthen the institution at Springfield, increasing its
student body from 200 to 300 in order to procure the necessary
manpower, or whether we should meet our additional need for
candidates for the preaching ministry chiefly from the Seminary at St.
Louis. After thorough deliberation it was recognized on all sides that it
is an undeniable need for our synodical household to gain more students
than heretofore for our theoretical institution in St. Louis, and that this
need would fittingly be met by having the General Synod first make the
Progymnasium at Milwaukee its own. It was therefore also, almost
unanimously,

Resolved, that the General Synod accept the offer of the three
Districts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota-Dakota, that is, that it
make the Progymnasium at Milwaukee, Wis., its own institution, i.e., an
institution of the General Synod.

After a short break, the Synod took up for deliberation the second
point of the petition, namely that the Synod expand the institution at
Milwaukee into a full Gymnasium. The debate on this was conducted
very animatedly, and a great many reasons for and against the motion,
with constant reference to the full Gymnasium at Fort Wayne, were
brought forward and weighed from every side. As