# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1911_S246
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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this district is only a small band with very few congregations of its own that are self-supporting. Apart from a debt of $600.00 still resting on the college property, we need at least $2600.00 annually to maintain the institution, and more than $1100.00 a year — even counting any tuition fees — we cannot, based on our experience so far, raise among our congregations. A reduction of expenses is even less to be thought of, since our dear professors, despite their heavy and self-denying labor, must already content themselves with an almost too meager salary.

We do recognize that our institution is a relatively costly one, but we also believe that it produces a blessing that would otherwise be lost and ought not to be buried. The existence of our college not only exerts a wholesome influence indirectly on our local congregations, by awakening them to a livelier participation in the works of the kingdom of God generally, but the direct success of the institution is by no means to be despised either.

Our director, Professor K. Niermann, reports on the successes achieved so far as follows: "In the seven years of its existence, our college has been attended, for a longer or shorter time, by 71 students. Of these, two young men passed their teacher's examination and have been called by local congregations as teachers. Three girls trained with us are teaching school in parish schools. One of our former students passed his examination at Seward, Nebr., and now stands in the teaching ministry. A further former student is still studying at our sister institution at Concordia, Mo. This one and our own first three Primaner will, God willing, enter the seminary at St. Louis next fall. And a whole number of former students, who attended our institution to acquire a higher education on a Christian foundation, now stand in a Christian calling and serve God and their neighbor in it." "You see," so our director closes his report, "our work is not in vain in the Lord." And who would contradict him?

In the current school year our institution was attended by 28 students, 23 boys and 5 girls. Among the 23 boys, 19 had set the study of theology as their goal. Unfortunately, however, 3 of these later withdrew in the course of the year, so that only 16 of the "theologians" remain. These are only small numbers; but we do labor in a small territory, and it is for this very reason that we are compelled to ask an Honorable General Synod for support. We live in the joyful hope that the requested sum will again be granted us gladly this time as well.

On behalf and by commission of the Board of Control of Concordia College at New Orleans, La., with heartfelt wishes of blessing on all your important deliberations,

Your humble
G. J. Wegener.