# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1926_S111
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Ev. Luth. Synod of Migsouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1926. 97

Braziu.

In Brazil, where the greater part of the populace can neither
read nor write, schools do not flourish. This applies also to the
primeval forest colonies where the spiritually neglected Germans live,
some of whom have but a meager knowledge of the Word of God.
These colonies are our chief mission-field. The Serra region, in the
State of Rio Grande do Sul, is dotted with mission-congregations and
preaching-stations. Another group of mission-stations is located in
- the State of Santa Catharina, about Cruz Machado, and in the south-

east corner of the State of Parana. 49 missionaries, 8 teachers,
- 39 assistant teachers, 2 of whom are women, minister to 18,542* souls,
young and old, among whom there are 2,553 voting and 9,335 com-
municant members at 164 different places. As far as strength per-
mits, work is done also among the Luso-Brazilians and Negroes who
live in gross ignorance, defiant unbelief, or torturing doubt.. This
branch of the work is included in the figures given above.

With the help of a loan from the Church Extension Fund, which
@. the congregations are gradually repaying, a neat chapel has been
& erected in Porto Alegre. The congregation is showing a slow, but
steady growth.

The book business formerly conducted by the District has been
turned over to a stock company... .

4 Our brethren in Brazil desired to begin another educational insti-
tution in the colony Guarany. Although this zeal is commendable,
&: your Board nevertheless believes that at the present time no addi-
tional institution should be founded in Brazil, but that the seminary
=~, in Porto Alegre should be fostered with all care. Still, we would
a request Synod to express its opinion on this matter. ,

_ One of the memorials advocates division of the District. Since
Brazil and Argentina are inhabited by two entirely different kinds of
a - people, with different languages, manners, and views; since, further-
more, great distances must be covered in traveling ‘from one country
. to the other, which is attended with difficulties (passport, etc.), so that
the members of the one country have almost as much trouble attend-
g. ing a meeting in the other country as they have in attending the
_ Delegate Synod, your Board warmly and earnestly advocates a sepa-
® ration of Brazil and Argentina.

ARGENTINA.

In Argentina, where cultural and economic conditions are better
than i in Brazil, gross spiritual darkness prevails in general. Although
. difficult, the work among the German immigrants from Russia is
ncouraging and arouses hopes for a constantly increasing and con-

* Reports are incomplete.
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