# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1905_S62
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

62 Proceedings of the 26th General or

members. The school at Serro Branco numbers 18 students. It
raises $200.00 toward the salary.

"The result of the visitation was satisfactory in all the
congregations. It showed that God has richly blessed the
preaching of his pure Word in the short span of not quite four
years. God has given the congregations men who, in the right
mind and spirit, work faithfully and diligently with much
self-denial.

"At the time of the visitation we counted 17 congregations,
together with a number of branches, with 15 pastors and 1 teacher.
Meanwhile a few more congregations have been added. At the last
distribution of candidates, 8 pastors and 1 teacher were requested.
Since most congregations, as your visitor has satisfied himself, are
not yet able to raise the pastor's full salary, the mission in Brazil,
in its present state, needs an annual subsidy of about $7000.00.

"Now, as God had granted grace and blessing for the visitation,
he also let the other purpose of the visitation journey succeed. A
Reverend Synod had, namely, also passed the following resolution
regarding our mission in Brazil three years ago: 'Resolved, that
the synod instructs the Commission for Home Missions, in
agreement with the General Presidium, to assist the pastors and
congregations in Brazil, at a suitable time, in forming their own
synodical district.' (See the report of 1902, p. 73.) The individual
pastors had already discussed this important matter with their
congregations and instructed them on the nature and importance of
a synod; instructive articles on the subject had likewise appeared
in the Kirchenblatt für Südamerica [Church Paper for South
America]. This important matter had also been brought up in the
congregations during the visitation.

"So, after the visitation was finished, June 23 drew near. This
day and the following ones had already been set for holding a
general meeting of pastors and deputies to deliberate on founding a
synodical district. This meeting took place in Rev. Harder's
congregation at Rincao Sao Pedro and lasted until June 27. They
were memorable days. After mature and thorough deliberation, a
Brazilian synodical district was organized. The remarks of the
individual deputies showed that this important matter had been
thoroughly discussed in the congregations. The election of officers
had the following result: President, Rev. Mahler; Vice-President,
Rev. Klein; Secretary, Rev. Kern; Treasurer, Teacher Wilke.