# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1911_S174
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

174 Proceedings of the 28th General or

...instead of about $4000.00, considerably more would surely have come in. But we hope in God that, in this very year, when we shall celebrate, to God's honor, the hundredth birthday of the blessed Dr. Walther, our dear Christians will also bring a special thank-offering for the "Walther Fund" of our General Church-Building Fund, and we ask the Reverend Synod to adopt resolutions to this effect in accordance with the recommendations of our Western District.

If the sects already collect so zealously for their church-building funds, and some already command great sums — for instance, the Presbyterians and Congregationalists each have over five million dollars — then we Lutherans should be all the more zealous for this cause, namely out of gratitude that the Lord has given us the jewel of pure doctrine.

It is regrettable that, because of the shortage of money, we had to turn down so many petitions, and that it was therefore also not possible for us to take over the $2000.00 mortgage resting on the church property of the Polish Christ Congregation in Baltimore, because there were always more applications than we could satisfy, and your commission felt bound to act according to the Reverend Synod's provisions, under which it is to help such needy congregations by interest-free loans, "which ask for assistance for a church building and for which their own district cannot provide."

It should further be noted that your commission was obliged to fill vacancies, since Teacher Th. Weseloh and Pastor C. Purzner, after faithful work, left upon moving away. Teacher H. F. Hölter was elected in place of the former (as secretary), and Pastor H. Bartels in place of the latter (as chairman). Besides its regular meetings, your commission also held many extra meetings.

Your commission further asks the Reverend Synod to make the following changes in the 1902 provisions concerning the Church-Building Fund:

1. In the first resolution, line 2, the word "incorporated" should stand in place of "poor." After "can and shall" the following should be added: "up to half the cost of the building." The resolution would then read: Resolved, that a General Church-Building Aid Fund be established, from which advances can and shall be extended, up to half the cost of the building, to such incorporated congregations of our Synod as are not able to undertake a necessary church building from their own means.

2. Addition to No. 2 of the second resolution: The same, however, shall be required to report to the commission's treasurer once a month on the state of the fund.

3. In No. 6 of the same second resolution, the word "may" should stand in place of "shall."