# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S88
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

88 Proceedings of the 25th General, or

...the economic decline in Germany, it is also to be expected that German
immigration will increase in the coming years, and thus the effectiveness
of our mission promises to become even more significant. Thousands of
Lutheran immigrants are advised and influenced here for the furthering
of their spiritual and bodily welfare, and where possible directed to
orthodox congregations. But the Pilgrim House also proves a blessing to
fellow believers who make a visiting trip through New York to Germany
and find here a welcome Christian lodging in which they know
themselves well cared for during their stay in New York. So that such
guests can be offered the necessary comforts, corresponding
improvements were also carried out at the Pilgrim House during the
period in question.

"In the three years covered by this report, the Pilgrim House has
housed 9,604 guests, against 8,886 in the previous three years.
Calendars, papers, and tracts distributed numbered 13,800, against
9,400 in the previous three years. Many poor were helped, partly
through free lodging for the night, partly through free meals or through
travel money for the onward journey; this assistance amounts in money
value to $1,069.09, against $829.26 in the previous three years. The
Pilgrim House recorded, in these years, a cash turnover of $381,864.01,
against $275,886.77 in the previous three years.

"Our missionary, P. S. Keyl, carries out his work faithfully and
conscientiously; he assists the immigrants assigned to him with advice
and deed and seeks to meet their bodily and spiritual needs. Although a
bookkeeper, who has proven capable and conscientious, assists him, P.
Keyl nevertheless checks the books and cash daily, as he is held
responsible for the entire management of the house. — Mr. P. Petersen,
of the Norwegian Synod, lives in the house and leads the family
devotions. Otherwise he works faithfully hand in hand with P. Keyl.

". . . We still have interest-free loans on the house amounting to about
$6,000.00. Our friends render the house a great service through these
loans, and we would like to express our thanks to them here as well.

"The property in East New York, entrusted to the Committee's
management many years ago, could finally be sold at an acceptable
price. The proceeds were forwarded to the Synod's relevant treasuries.

"Regarding the mission stations in Bremen and Hamburg, it is to be
reported that the Free Church in Saxony has carried out the resolution
of the last Delegate Synod to appoint a committee that would report to
our Synod.