# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1874_S48
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 48 —
to pursue, to which he had devoted himself in his youth, having prepared himself at several universities in Germany, in Berlin, Erlangen and Marburg, and especially in the Lutheran mission house in Dresden, with the help of friends of missions, and in which he had worked for three years in China. Before it could be proceeded to appoint him as a missionary, he had to submit to a colloquium, which showed that he is in agreement with us in doctrine. Thereupon he has been appointed provisionally, rather in a private way, as a missionary among the Chinese here, and is already working as such, in that he reads the New Testament with them in their mother tongue and seeks to bring them to a knowledge of sin and of grace. English-speaking people have also tried to do mission work among this people by means of the English language; but the Chinese give themselves more confidingly to Mr. Vogel, because he converses with them in their language, and because they also profit more, through him, who is fully master of English, in the English language. Almost every evening of the week and especially on Sunday he converses with them, several of whom always live together. Through God's blessing this mission could now win souls for the kingdom of God not only among the Chinese here, but even, since they mostly return to their old fatherland, break a path for the kingdom of God in China. Also, through Mr. Vogel a Chinese college might arise here among students of theology, so that several missionaries might be won and prepared for the many millions of Chinese." The request of the Rev. President Bünger was now this: "that the Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] might remember the said mission in its intercession and for it take up a collection at mission festivals or designate a part of the collection for this mission." Thereupon the following proposals for resolutions, submitted by a committee, were adopted unanimously:

1) Resolved, that the Synodical Conference appoint a committee of three persons with Pastor Bünger as president, to supervise and regulate this missionary activity. This committee shall consist of Pastors J. F. Bünger, E. A. Brauer, and Mr. J. Umbach of St. Louis.

2) Resolved, that, if Mr. K. Vogel is declared qualified for such mission service among the Chinese, the synods belonging to the Synodical Conference be called upon to support this missionary activity with their intercessions and contributions and to send their contributions to Pastor Bünger.

3) Resolved, that this committee be requested to investigate whether San Francisco, Cal., would not also be a suitable place to begin such a mission.

4) Resolved, that the committee send an annual account to the Synodical Conference of the use of the contributions received.