# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S102
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

102 Proceedings of the 25th General, or

theological seminary at Springfield as their missionary. He was
installed in August 1899. Since it was absolutely necessary for the
missionary, in order to work among the Indians with blessing, to live on
the reservation, and since no suitable dwelling could be found there,
the commission found itself obliged to build a parsonage. For this
purpose, 20 acres of land located in the settlement were purchased for
$200.00. The cost of the building came to $1,837.52. This sum may seem
very high, but may the Reverend Synod consider that, besides the actual
parsonage, a stable, a temporary wagon shed, a well, etc. had to be
built, and the whole plot had to be fenced in. In addition, most of the
material had to be hauled a distance of 16 miles from Shawano, so that
the hauling costs alone amounted to $125.00 to $150.00. Moreover, wages
and the price of materials were very high at that time. We also had to
build the addition to the parsonage — the present kitchen — larger than
would otherwise have been necessary, so that it could be used for
holding services, since difficulties were made about our continuing to
use the government school. We were also forced to have about 6 to 7
acres of land somewhat cleared, in order to protect the property from
forest fires. Although the costs were thus very high, the faithful God
made hearts willing to contribute generously, so that we could already
have paid off the last debts last year, had the commission not found
itself obliged to begin building a small church.

"Unfortunately the mission has had to struggle with many difficulties.
After nine months of work, Mr. Pastor Larsen found himself compelled to
resign on account of his impaired health. The commission has since
repeatedly tried to obtain a missionary for the mission, if possible a
man experienced in the office; it has issued calls five or six times,
but always in vain. So nothing remained for us but to ask the Reverend
Faculty in St. Louis for a student. They persuaded Mr. Student E.
Biegener to serve the mission for one year. He worked among the Indians
with great faithfulness, conscientiousness, and diligence, and God
blessed his work. The Indians came diligently to church. The addition to
the parsonage eventually proved not large enough to hold all the people,
so we set up two rooms in the main building for services. While the
student otherwise lived in Shawano and drove out to the services, he
remained on the reservation during Holy Week of 1901 at the Indians'
request and held a Passion service every day, which was well attended.
He also rehearsed several hymns with the Indian congregation's choir,
such as "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" ["O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"],
among others. God's word was not preached in vain, as many a wonderful
testimony at sickbeds and deathbeds also made clear.