# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1899_S48
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

48 Proceedings of the 24th General, or

...for higher education has been awakened and raised in the congregations
through our institution.

"What the Reverend Synod wanted to wait and see has come to pass: the
institution has developed. Its development would probably have been even
stronger if we had also been able to set up the next two classes. Then
more new students would have entered the preparatory classes, and more
students who had completed those classes would have advanced into the
seminary proper. The fact that students cannot complete their entire
course of study here has led some parents not to send their sons at all,
and others, who had thought our institution would be expanded from year to
year, took their sons back home again once they had completed the classes
that were available. Nevertheless, all the rooms are now occupied, and in
fact in such a way that conditions exist which ought not to exist. For
lack of a dining hall, the students must eat in the kitchen. This makes
the work in the kitchen very difficult, apart from other troubles this
causes. The washroom is too small. Since two music practice rooms were
partitioned off from the storage room, almost nothing is left of it. The
living rooms are all occupied and the dormitory rooms are crowded full.
Two classrooms ought to be larger, as should the assembly hall, which also
serves as a classroom. Even if the first preparatory class continues, as
before, to go on to Addison, we will still not be able, next year, to
house all the students in a way that would leave them room even if the
present troubles continued. For the first class numbers only eight
students, while certainly double that number of new students will enter.
The board must therefore come before the Reverend Synod with the request
that the existing lack of space be remedied. And since our institution has
so far caused the Reverend Synod scarcely any notable expense through
buildings and repairs, the board hopes it is not asking amiss.

"We consider it most advantageous if the Reverend Synod would resolve
on an addition to the institution's main building and grant $8000.00 for
this purpose. Then we could set up in the addition the necessary halls,
living and dormitory rooms, a sufficiently large washroom on the ground
floor, and a dining hall on the ground floor of the old building. The
auxiliary building erected by the congregations is so situated and built
that it can be converted into a residence for a house manager.

"Since Prof. Weller has, at the board's request, so far filled the
office of director, and has administered the directorship with great
skill, we ask the Reverend Synod to confer that office on him permanently.

"Further, the board asks the Reverend Synod to order the election of a
third teacher. But if it wishes the assistant-teacher position to continue
for the time being, may it please determine the assistant teacher's
salary.