# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1896_S57
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] of North America. 1896. 57

the church with seating for about 150 persons, and the school, separated from it by a sliding partition. Besides, a parsonage with the necessary outbuildings, a good well, orchard and vegetable garden, and cemetery. The whole represents a value of $1600.

In addition Missionary Schooff has two more preaching places at a distance of four and ten miles, with an audience of 30 and 40 hearers respectively at service and catechization. The services often have to be omitted because we lack premises of our own.

Springfield, Ill.

This station is still the Commission's problem child. The mission property is at the corner of 15th and Jefferson Street. The lot is 80 by 157 feet. The church on it measures 32 by 45 feet and has room for 175 hearers, and the school built onto it is 36 by 25 feet. The whole building, church and school together, is thus 70 feet long.

From August 1894 to March 1895 Missionary H. Meyer was pastor of the congregation. He soon fell out with the congregation on account of imprudent remarks in a catechetical lesson. A reconciliation between the congregation and him did come about, but the confidence of the congregation was not so easily won back. Since the missionary soon afterwards fell seriously ill, he left Springfield and, after regaining his health, was transferred to North Carolina.

Because of the distressed state of our treasury, and also because we now had no missionary for Springfield, Professor J. Herzer of the seminary in Springfield was so kind as to take over the direction of the station and to serve it with the help of Prof. L. Wessels and some students. The membership is 45, among them 27 communicants. Twelve were baptized, among them two adults. Church attendance is 20 to 25, maximum 36. A number are regular attenders. The Sunday school numbered 34, the weekday school 44 pupils; average attendance in both barely half as many. One couple was married, 7 persons buried. 5 are under instruction for baptism and confirmation.

Even if the students were given compensation for their services, for preaching, keeping school and Sunday school, the care of the station in this way still comes out much cheaper than if a missionary of its own were stationed there. In view of the lack of funds in the treasury, Prof. Herzer is also ready in future to continue the station in the same way as hitherto. We are greatly indebted to him and his helpers.

Your Commission has held a meeting regularly every month and, as need required, extra meetings as well, and has had all important proceedings carefully recorded by its secretary. Recently we also had the joy of seeing Prof. F. Pieper