# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1911_S276
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 62 —

He went regularly to the immigration station to receive our fellow
believers there as they landed and to help and assist them, physically
and spiritually. For many he must intervene in a special way, appearing
before the various authorities before whom they must present themselves
and advocating on their behalf. Some become ill and are sent to
hospitals, where they must be visited. Sometimes the missionary also
serves immigrants by appealing an exclusion order passed against them.
Often relatives must be telegraphed, telephoned, or written to, and
bond must be secured. Deaths also occur, the handling of which takes
much time. And one could go on listing the many kinds of tasks that
this work requires.

All immigrants with whom the missionary comes into contact are made
aware of our congregations and directed to them; the pastors concerned
are notified of the arrival of such immigrants. Many synodical
calendars, tracts, and periodicals have been distributed. — The
collections for this mission yielded the sum of $2500.05. But since
this sum falls far short of covering the salaries of the missionaries in
New York, Hamburg, and Bremen, a subsidy of $3148.54 had to be
contributed from the synodical treasury.

The Pilgrim House sheltered 11,037 guests, among whom were many
immigrants. For while most immigrants are carried directly from Ellis
Island to their destination, some do remain in New York for a short
time, and for them the Pilgrim House serves as a welcome shelter. 2,095
poor persons received free meals and provisions. 963 persons were
given free lodging for the night. The poor were assisted with cash in
the amount of $1000.74. Cash turnover amounted to $547,684.05. —
The building itself required major repairs and improvements, partly
because the house is old and partly because the health authorities
compelled us to make them. We hope, however, to be spared such large
expenses for the next few years.

As a result of a new state law, difficulties have arisen for us in
conducting our business. In order to continue carrying on our previous
business, we would have to obtain a state license by depositing a bond
of $15,000.00, or the equivalent amount in securities. In the process
it emerged that, on the basis of our existing incorporation, we have no
legal authority whatsoever to conduct our previous business. We had
to ask ourselves: should we discontinue our previous activity in this
regard altogether, or should we have ourselves reincorporated under
a special charter? After mature deliberation we have decided on the
latter course, since our fellow believers have trustingly entrusted such