# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1899_S44
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

44 Proceedings of the 24th General, or

...come to us. The first is the installation of steam heating in our
academic building and in the students' residence hall. Since the Delegate
Synod of 1896 had granted the expenditure of $5500.00 for this purpose,
and had generously resolved to set aside the two-thirds rule for it, the
installation was carried out already during the 1896 vacation. The costs,
not counting the asbestos cladding, came to only $4281.00. The steam
heating has proven itself entirely excellent so far. Although no notable
reduction in coal consumption can be recorded, more rooms than before can
now be heated; and the even warmth and the greater cleanliness it made
possible have had a very favorable effect on the health of our students.

"'The second benefit is the establishment of a practice school
[*Uebungsſchule*] connected with the seminary. The committee charged by
the last Delegate Synod with pursuing this matter devoted itself, with
great care and self-denial, to its task, which presented no small
difficulties, and so, with God's help, it succeeded in opening the
practice school right after Easter of 1898. The previous year's issues of
the "Schulblatt" [school journal] gave an account of the principles by
which it is run, and the catalog of our educational institutions, published
annually, will from now on also have to take note of this new institution.

"'Even though the amount of activity assigned and allowed to the
students of our senior class in this school is still quite modest, they
nevertheless recognize — together with us teachers — the plainly evident
benefit that grows for them out of this glimpse into the workings of
school life and out of the practice in conducting a class, which is made
possible for them here under the supervision of their seminary teachers.

"'May God's gracious eye rest, as upon our whole institution, so also
upon this youngest, but truly not least important, branch!

"'In connection with this second point we would like to make a heartfelt
request of the Reverend Synod.

"'We have given the practice school our best classroom. We were able to
do this since Easter 1898 because the number of our students had
decreased, making it possible for us to convert a former dormitory room
into a classroom. But if the number of our students increases again by as
little as 25, we will need the old dormitory room back, and will then no
longer be able to hold the practice school in the seminary building. But
even without that happening, the erection of a separate school building
for the practice school is urgently desirable. For both the seminary
classes and the practice school suffer, from the shared use of the same
building, all manner of unavoidable and troublesome disturbances.