# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1877_S16
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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his Word" (not only so richly grants, but also) "makes so mighty and fruitful in Your Electoral Grace's land. For truly Your Electoral Grace's land has the very best and the most pastors and preachers, more than any other land in all the world, who teach so faithfully and purely and help to keep such fine peace. There now grows up the tender youth of little boys and girls, so well instructed in the catechism and Scripture that it does my heart good to see how now young boys and girls can learn, believe and speak more about God and about Christ than all the foundations, monasteries and schools have been able to before, or can still. Truly such young people in Your Electoral Grace's land are a beautiful paradise, the like of which is not in the world. And all this God builds in Your Electoral Grace's lap as a sign that he is gracious and favorable to Your Electoral Grace. As if he were to say: Very well, dear Duke John, I commit to you my noblest treasure, my pleasant paradise; you shall be father over them. For under your protection and rule I want to have them, and I will do you the honor that you shall be my gardener and keeper. On the other hand, look also at what damage the raging of other princes does to the dear youth, that they make of God's paradise sinful, foul, torn-up puddles for the devil and ruin everything. Yet there are still many pious people among them in secret who earnestly long for Your Electoral Grace's paradise and promised land, and help to pray for it from the heart." (Walch XVI, 821 f.)

As Saxony is described here, so it should be with us. Our congregations should be nothing but paradises, where the young heavenly plants grow up so that it is a delight. We must also learn from the enemy. Consider what pains the adherents of the Roman Antichrist have taken in the last three hundred years, and how eagerly they bring their teachings among the young people! What a shame for us if we were to show less zeal for the truth! We should cover the whole land with a net of Christian schools and shun no effort or sacrifice to reach this glorious goal. If, then, the parents will not send their children, one must in the end exercise church discipline against them. If one does not proceed in this way at last either, one will certainly not reach the goal.

From the great importance of the parish schools [*Gemeindeſchulen*] there follows further the necessity of teachers' seminaries [*Schullehrerſeminare*]. We cannot pick the first best man and put him in the school; rather the teachers must know something solid, also in worldly matters. But that is not possible unless they have prepared themselves thoroughly. Though the task is hard, we are still blessed people that God gives us the opportunity to do something so great. How shall we answer for it if we