# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1899_S55
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Ninth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1899. 55

...we may especially highlight, with praise and thanks toward God, that
this past school year a very good college spirit prevails, which we pray
God will preserve for us. Even the friction between the gymnasium students
and the pro-seminarians, which caused us some concern two years ago, has
now given way to quite pleasant harmony. We can therefore assure the
Reverend Synod that our professors attempt everything, not only to instill
useful knowledge and learning in the students, but also the right fear of
God.

"In the first school year, scarlet fever threatened to break out as an
epidemic at our institution, but only isolated, mild cases occurred. One
student, however, was struck most severely by the disease and died,
blessedly, in faith in his Savior, after 36 hours. On this occasion it
became clear how good it is that we have so much room to spare in our
buildings, for the patients afflicted with a contagious illness could be
completely isolated not only from the other students, but also from the
other sick. Otherwise there were mild colds here and there, and here and
there a somewhat more serious case of illness, but on the whole the state
of health was excellent. As in the first three years, so also in the last
three, our boys have thrived exceedingly well in the healthy, bracing
northern climate, in an institution where every hygienic precaution can be
taken.

"We must, to the glory of God, also mention a particular instance of
being protected from a fire breaking out, on account of the peculiar way
it came about. As in all our institutions, large bottles are placed
throughout the building — a chemical preparation which, as is well known,
one throws into the flames when a fire breaks out. One such bottle stood
near a window through which the afternoon sun cast its rays. The thick
glass of the filled bottle became a burning-glass, which, through the
sunbeams gathered in it, set alight a dust rag hanging behind the bottle.
Now God so arranged it that, at the very moment the rag burst into flame,
Director Bünger entered the room and smothered the fire in its infancy. So
wonderfully and remarkably has God watched over us.

"The house manager, Mr. Fürbringer, who had served the institution
faithfully for four years, gave up his position, so that we found
ourselves obliged to look for another suitable man, and believed we had
already found a good man in the person of Mr. Kirschke, when it became
clearly apparent that he was exercising a demoralizing influence on our
students, so that we had to dismiss him.

"Since the large frame building inhabited by Profs. Jürgensen and
Arndt was too cold, on account of its unusually large and high rooms
without a stone foundation, and also constantly gave trouble...