# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S60
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

60 Proceedings of the 25th General, or

"In connection with this, the Board of Control takes the liberty, with
due modesty, of submitting the following to the Honorable Synod's
discretion: whether it would not be to the advantage and blessing of the
mission of the whole West and South, and thus of our Synod as a whole,
if it gave its consent to expanding the institution, year by year, into
a full Gymnasium.

"From the beginning it was the wish and goal of the Western and the
Kansas Districts — which, as is well known, called this institution
into being and supported it from their own funds for some thirteen
years — that it be expanded over time so that its pupils would not have
to enter a second institution before they could be released to
St. Louis. It is obvious that when pupils of an institution have
completed a three-year course, it is a disruption for them if, on
entering the Tertia of another Gymnasium, they must accustom themselves
not merely once again to new teachers but also to new methods, and that
their studies suffer as a result; whereas study would proceed much more
advantageously if they could remain at the first institution not only as
long as possible but, if possible, also until their graduation
examination. Viewed from a pedagogical standpoint, then, the expansion
of the institution is very desirable.

"But we must also build up, promote, maintain, and expand our
institution at Concordia for another and more important reason. We are
convinced that our institution is indispensable to the Synod. The Church
needs this institution so that from its territory too, the great West
and South of our country, pious and capable boys may be equipped for
the Church's service, and thus recruited as soldiers for the Lord
Christ, armed and taught the divine art of war to fight Christ's
battles, and enabled, in our faith-poor age rushing swiftly toward the
world's end, to bring the gospel of peace, the sole means of mankind's
salvation, to poor, lost sinners who have brought ruin upon themselves.
For this the Church needs this institution, precisely in the great
territory in which it is located, in the wide West and the great South
of our Synod. Through this institution, boys and pupils who are trained
to become servants and teachers of the Word are brought to our Synod
from parts of our country from which, if the institution did not exist
and were not supported, relatively few pupils would have come and, as
far as men can see, very few would still come, because of the great
distance to the Synod's other institutions.

"This institution is further indispensable and necessary for promoting
works of charity and interest in Synodical affairs in general as in
particular. It is a standing, visible summons to the members of the
Synod, especially also in its own territory, to increase