# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1877_S47
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 47 —

supported from the Mission Treasury and, for the present, trained for their future calling in one of the teaching institutions of the synods belonging to the Synodical Conference.
Respectfully,
the committee:
J. F. Bünger.
G. F. H. Meiser.
J. G. Thieme."
To this a fourth resolution was added:
"That the Commission for Heathen Mission shall have its seat in St. Louis and shall consist of Pastors J. F. Bünger and C. F. W. Sapper and Mr. J. Umbach."

III. Translation of the Book of Concord into the English Language.

The Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] considered a new translation of the Book of Concord [*Concordienbuch*], this so important and venerable document, thoroughly necessary because the English translation published by the Tennessee Synod years ago has a number of not insignificant errors and it is nevertheless of great importance and significance that the young theologians learn from this book a completely adequate expression of the English church language. Therefore it was resolved unanimously:

1. "That we, recognizing the high necessity of a faithful translation of the Book of Concord into the English language, appoint a committee to take the work in hand and complete it, in such a way that it begin with the Formula of Concord, that the remaining Symbols also be published singly little by little, and that only later, after a renewed revision, the whole work be stereotyped."

2. "That a committee be appointed for this, consisting of Professors F. A. Schmidt, M. Loy, W. F. Lehmann, Dr. W. Notz, A. Crull and Pastor R. Lange of Chicago. The Conference's thought in this is that the chief editor and actual translator Mr. Prof. F. A. Schmidt and the assistants assigned to him are the critics. It was also agreed that for all Symbols, including the Apology, the German text be taken as the basis, since it is after all the authentic one among us, and since it will certainly be desirable later to add the Latin text to the English translation as well."

Pastor S. Kleppisch, who had given the impulse in this matter by an encouraging letter to the Conference, sent the Conference at the same time a translation of Luther's Small Catechism, which he had ventured to undertake "in God's name, so that a beginning might be made in this," with the request that "the Conference use it too, since it departs from all other English translations, if an English Small Catechism of Luther is to be published by it."