# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S103
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Tenth Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1902. 103

"Since it repeatedly happened that people went home again when they
could no longer find a seat, the commission resolved to build a small
church. It measures 30×45 feet and has an addition of 15×20 feet for
school purposes, brick-veneered; but the building is not yet covered
with brick, and so is not yet entirely finished. The cost of this
building came to about $1,500.00, and there still rests upon it a debt
of about $1,100.00. The commission urgently asks the Reverend Synod to
relieve it of this burden as soon as possible. — The dedication of this
church took place on July 14, 1901, and our mission on the Stockbridge
Reservation is now, once the already-approved building of a proper
wagon shed is also carried out, well provided with all buildings needed,
at least for the present. Together with the church dedication took
place the installation of the new missionary finally granted to us by
God after many calls, Mr. Pastor R. Kretzmann, of Rhineland, Norfolk
Co., Ont. Both events were reported in detail in the 'Lutheraner' at the
time.

"Mr. Pastor Kretzmann, who had already spent 15 years in the holy
ministry, 7½ of them partly in English-language work, now labors,
despite various hindrances and great difficulties, with skill and joy in
his field, and the faithful God continues to bless his servant's work.
The new missionary has not only carried on the work already begun on the
Stockbridge Reservation, but has also soon begun a small school there.
He has further held catechetical instruction [Christenlehre] on Sunday
afternoons or evenings, in which biblical history and the catechism were
taught. These sessions were attended by the adults almost as well as
the morning preaching services. With God's help he has also succeeded
in establishing a preaching station 8 miles further east, at Keshena, on
the Menominee Reservation, even though he was met there — and still is —
with no small difficulties from Catholics and government officials. He
instructs the children at Keshena — mostly Stockbridge children — in the
government school every Friday evening in biblical history and the
catechism, and has preached every other Sunday afternoon since the end
of September 1901. This work, too, God has already crowned with
blessing. The children expressed a desire for holy baptism. On
consulting with the parents it turned out that the mother, too, was not
yet baptized. After she had been given the necessary instruction and had
confessed her faith before the assembled congregation, she was baptized
together with her children. Since then the children have also been
attending our school on the Stockbridge Reservation.

"In 1898 this mission's total stood at 1 preaching station, 35 souls, 5
baptisms, and 5 burials; but on April 30, 1902, at 2 preaching stations,
153 souls, 15 communicant members, 122 baptisms, 1 school, 13 pu-