# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S76
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

76 Proceedings of the 20th General or

With sorrow the Synod learned from the report of the Emigrant
Mission Commission at New York that, during the term of the former
authority over this mission, a severe loss had arisen through the
disloyal administration of funds by the former treasurer of the
Emigrant Mission Commission — not, to be sure, of the collection
funds given by our congregations for the mission's support, but of
the commission funds taken in by the missionary from the sale of
ship and railroad tickets. (The reproach which the present Mission
Commission voices in its report — that it was a punishable neglect
of duty on the part of the then Mission Commission not to have
examined its former treasurer's books and accounts diligently enough
— the Synod had, to be sure, to agree with in all seriousness. But
the damage was already done. So people encouraged one another to
reawaken our congregations' interest in this work, so that
collections might flow more generously, and especially so that the
purchase of passage tickets be entrusted not to worldly agents of
various kinds but to our own missionaries, whereby the Commission
Fund could in turn be replenished.

As for the Pilgrim House, after about $8000.00 had been paid off
since New Year's, there still rests upon it a debt of about
$30,000.00. This debt, which can be paid off gradually through the
collection of offerings and the forwarding of interest-free loans,
could be no obstacle for the Synod in making its own the resolutions
of the District Synods by which the purchase of the Pilgrim House had
already been approved.

Resolved, that the Synod take over the "Pilgrim House" at New
York, that is, regard it from now on as its own property.

Resolved, that the Emigrant Mission Commission at New York have
itself incorporated, in the State of New York, as a commission of the
General Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States.

Resolved, that all officers of the Emigrant Mission Commission in
the State of New York be appointed trustees by the General Synod, in
order to administer, in its name and on its behalf, the property
which it, the General Synod, holds in New York and has placed in the
service of the Emigrant Mission there.

2. In Baltimore.

"In the year 1884 I, the undersigned, received and forwarded 1305
souls; in 1885, 419; and in 1886, 830 — total 2554. Letters and
postcards received: in 1884, 987; 1885, 631; 1886, 719 — total 2337.
Letters and postcards written: 1884, 890; 1885, 557; and 1886, 645 —
total 2092. In funds there were deposited with me: 1884, $14023.50;
1885, $5339.75; and 1886, $6325.32,

[SCAN: faint word-fragments show through on the right margin from the facing page (p-083); not transcribed.]