# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1899_S104
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

104 Proceedings of the 24th General, or

sums directly connected to the Synod at large are turned over to the
Commission, and an annual, detailed report must be given concerning
the other bequests placed by testators under the administration of
designated authorities or persons.

"To make the investment of the bequests secure, the three
commissioners should act only unanimously in this, but in every
disputed case should always call in the General President for a
decision. All documents should be kept in a "Safe Deposit Box."

"We leave it to the Synod to tighten and make more precise the
provisions already adopted in this sense.

"We further recommend that the Synod determine that all district
treasurers should, even if not turning over the full sum of the
monies received by them for Home Missions, at least report it to the
General Treasurer. Then the General Treasurer's report would always
show how much came into this highly important fund and how much was
used by the individual districts for their own purposes.

"We further recommend that the General Relief Commission give
receipt not only in the Synodical Report, as before, but also in the
"Lutheraner," so as to make this matter as public as possible.

"On the business operations of the Concordia Publishing House the
Board of Directors will report in detail. We wish here only to
express our conviction that our Agent performs his work faithfully
and with professional knowledge, and has improved the bookkeeping in
several respects during the past triennium as well. Net profit has
not risen significantly compared with the preceding triennium.
Although the sale of books was somewhat more favorable than before,
the yield from the periodicals has decreased. Expenses in the bindery
have risen, since more durable bindings are now being made. The
prices of some books were also reduced.

"Every year, in accordance with the resolution of the Delegate
Synod, $2000.00 was set aside as an insurance fund and invested in
secure securities.

"The stocktaking has taken place every year. However, only the
General Treasurer, not the publishing house, has kept to the date set
by the Synod — February 1 — for closing the books. The Board of
Directors will no doubt explain to the Synod the reasons for this. In
any case, a single date should be set for closing both sets of
accounts.

"The outstanding debts still amount to about $100,000.00, and the
efforts made to collect old debts have met with little success.

"May the Lord of the Church, as heretofore, so also in the future
further among us the work of our hands, to the honor of his name!"
(Report of the Auditing Commission.)