# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1876_S50
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 50 —

[illegible] one state synod will come together, and
[illegible] the beginning toward it, not from their respective
[illegible] would have to be excluded. Yet no state synod shall
be bound to join any one of the existing general synods. It can also stand quite independent.

4. To leave the care of gymnasium instruction [*Gymnaſial⸗Unterricht*] to the state synods.

For as important as a joint preachers' seminary is, so little necessary is a joint gymnasium. Gymnasia could rather be in every state. When Luther once wrote his glorious writing, "To the Councilmen of All Cities of German Lands, that they should establish and maintain Christian schools," so powerful that hardly anyone can match it, and this writing was eagerly read in almost all Lutheran families of Germany, it lasted only a few years and all Germany was strewn with gymnasia as with seed. In every notable town there were lower gymnasia, Latin schools, and there were also a number of full gymnasia. Now we are in the same position as Luther. We must again enthuse our people for gymnasia. But it does not follow from this that the Synodical Conference must burden itself with it. That would increase its work without considerable benefit. The individual state synods and synodical federations can provide for it.

With many gymnasia in existence, the certificate of maturity [*Maturitätszeugniß*] for the theological institution could of course have no absolute validity. What arrangement is to be made on that account will easily be found.

5. To connect with the German joint preachers' seminary one of the same kind for the English-speaking.

Our thought here is not to bring about an organic connection, but only a joining of both institutions on the same site. Some, on the one hand, regarded a merger of the German and the English institution as desirable, so that both languages might be thoroughly learned by both parties. On the other hand it was held not advisable for the future. It was thought that it would indeed be of great benefit if, by placing both institutions on one plot of land, opportunity were offered for the German students to attend some English lectures and the reverse; but only by means of a purely English seminary shall we train preachers who can develop the right effectiveness among the Americans. If the American notices the foreigner in the preacher, it costs him, especially the educated, a great effort even to listen to the preacher. Not to speak of other important qualities of an American preacher, which only an American has, or which can be acquired only in purely English institutions, apart from rare exceptions.