# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S56
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

56 Proceedings of the 25th General, or

Synod resolved to make the Progymnasium at Milwaukee into a full
Gymnasium, and experience has certainly taught that this was no mistake
but on the contrary a very wise step. But if we compare the state of
affairs at that time with present conditions, we recognize that an
expansion of our institution is now surely just as necessary as it was
then.

"The Statistical Yearbook that appeared immediately before that Synod
gives the following figures: 1,088 pastors, 509,115 souls, 74,006 school
children, 992 pupils at the higher schools. The yearbook just published,
by contrast, gives the following figures: 1,612 pastors, 743,182 souls,
94,121 school children, 1,160 pupils at the higher schools. Accordingly,
the numerical proportion of our Synod is now such that we indeed need
more full Gymnasia. Whereas at that time there was one full Gymnasium
for every 544 pastors and about 255,000 souls, now with three full
Gymnasia there would be one for every 537 pastors and 247,727 souls.

"b. The period of learned study in our Synod is shorter than in German
and other schools, indeed also shorter than in the schools of our sister
synods. In Germany a nine- to ten-year course is set for the Gymnasia; in
our country, four years at the secondary schools, the high schools, and
four years at the colleges; only then does specialized study follow. The
Reverend Wisconsin Synod, as well as the Norwegian sister synod, each
have a seven-year course. It would therefore certainly be an advantage
for the pupils of our institutions if our Progymnasia were expanded into
full Gymnasia, instead of overfilling the upper classes.

"c. Whenever our Synod has hitherto recognized an arrangement as
necessary for the good of the Kingdom of God, God the Lord has also again
and again shown it ways and means to carry the matter out. This would be
all the more facilitated in the case of expanding our Progymnasium at
St. Paul, because a good deal of space is still available in our
buildings, so that for the present no new building, but only the fitting
out of the existing space, would be necessary. These reasons named
should, in our conviction, move the Reverend General Synod to expand our
institution at St. Paul into a full Gymnasium. According to calculations
and estimates made, a sum of $5000.00 would suffice to fit out, in the
existing space, living rooms, dormitories, and classrooms for 120 pupils
as needed, and we therefore respectfully ask the Reverend Synod for the
grant of this sum.