# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1906_S56
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

56 Proceedings of the twenty-first convention

lost thereby. In rainy weather in the winter months the roads are very muddy. Often we have sat the whole day in the cold classroom with wet feet and clothes. Severe colds could not fail to follow. Prof. Wahlers was seriously ill for a week.

It is surely clear that things cannot go on so, and when my situation is brought to the knowledge of the Honorable Synodical Conference [*Synodalkonferenz*], it will surely see to it that I can discharge my office and at the same time also fulfil my duties toward my family. That can be done only by erecting a house on the college grounds. The reasons which should move the Synodical Conference to do this are the following:

1. So that I can attend to my office better and more easily for the good of the institution. An office has been entrusted to me and certain duties laid upon me; is it not fair, then, that I be put in a position to discharge my office and to meet my obligations for the prosperity of the institution? A single scandal on the institution would do enormous harm and would be hard to wipe away again. I have risked much in sleeping at home, two miles from the institution, every night for a few months last year. I have also not been able to sleep peacefully. In all likelihood we shall get a larger number of new pupils next year, raw material that will give us much to do until manners have been instilled into them. The only solution is that a house be built.

2. This should also be done so that I can provide for my family spiritually and protect them physically.

3. Although the housekeeping is still small, it nevertheless demands considerable work. The most reliable employees are not always reliable, and with our small means we must cut our coat according to our cloth. Not only must I make all the purchases and keep the books, but I must also determine the bill of fare for every day, supervise the preparation rather often, act as table inspector and finally see to it that the leftovers do not go to waste. This work I have to do besides the 35 weekly hours of teaching. Much time would be saved me and the work made easier if I had a dwelling at the College. My wife, too, would be ready to help me with the housekeeping.

I could cite still more reasons why the director should live at the College, e.g. the cultivation of the land and the supervision connected with it, sudden cases of illness, the outbreak of a fire, etc.; but those mentioned above should suffice.

My report has become long. God, who has helped hitherto, will go on helping and bless our work to his glory.

N. J. Bakke.