# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1932_S112 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 150 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention, Because of present unsettled conditions an gency policy of our Government in matters of gration, we recommend — That the Immigrant Mission be allowed to continue its present work as carried on in the past three years, awaiting the adoption of the future immigration policy by our Government; That the question of the discontinuance of “the separate incor. poration of our Immigrant Mission Board” be tabled for the time being; That in the mean time the Immigrant Mission work, together with the “Lutheran Immigrant Society, Incorporated,” and its assetg and holdings, be placed under the supervision of the Atlantic District of our Synod for a study, a survey of the entire situation, to Synod or its authorities at such a time as Synod desi Respectfully submitted in the name of the Immigrant Mission Board. Ww. Burcrorr, Secretary. Committee 14 brought in the following report on the Immigrant Mission in New York: — In New York the work among immigrants has declined because ’ of the present emergency restriction on immigration ; however, the work carried on among aliens in New York and emigrants in Ellis Island by Missionary G. Gallman has greatly increased. In this work our missionary is given the opportunity to make contact with thou- sands of aliens and emigrants and to give them the comfort of God’s Word. ; Since the present Government policy of restricting immigration is an emergency measure, the immigration quota law still being in force, and since almost insurmountable difficulties would attend any attempt at reestablishing the work, once abandoned, therefore your Committee is of the opinion that this work should be continued ac- cording to the plans of Committee 8, and we recommend that Synod concur in these resolutions; namely, that the Immigrant Mission in New York be continued and transferred to the Atlantic District. , Synod adopted this report. Nors. -— Synod instructed its Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for the election of the Rev. J. C. Borth, the Rev. Erwin Kurth, Mr. J. C. Stemmermann, and Mr. Theo. Fischer as trustees of the Lutheran Immi- grant Society of New York, Inc., to serve until the transfer of the property of the society can be made. d the temporary emer. immigration and emi- and a report guates. Report on the Seamen’s Mission. During 1931 our missionary, Pastor M. Pinkert, did blessed and conscientious work among seamen in the harbor of New York. He reports monthly to the Board which ships he visited and on which day and how many people he succeeded in approaching each time. During ae NRL ere sae eninnitamrmmenitntetrens at ~ nt esineeinatnsee nen Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 151 the past year he visited 662 ships and held 170 services on board ship, ‘th a total attendance of 8,221. 265 services were held at the mission- mt 1, with an attendance of 11,241. Regular Sunday services and oo day devotions are held. Thousands of Bible parts and tracts ne distributed. Such conscientious activity will not remain without peuit. May God continue to bless these efforts! Erwin Kurta, Secretary. Committee 14 reported : — a The work of the Seamen’s Mission consists in visiting ships and preaching the Gospel on board ship by the missionary. One hundred seventy services were held on board ship, and two hundred services were held in the chapel. A total of 19,000 hearers attended t nese services. In addition, thousands of tracts and Bible parts are is- tributed. Our faithful and conscientious missionary, Pastor M. Pin- kert, is failing in health at the present time. Your Committee recommends: — That Synod, through our Immigrant Missionary C. Gallman, send greetings to Pastor M. Pinkert, commending his consecrated work, ex- pressing our sympathy, and wishing him Gods blessing ; That Synod concur in the recommendations of Committee 8 concerning the continuing of the Seamen’s Mission ; namely, to trans- fer the Seamen’s Mission to the Atlantic District. Synod adopted this report. Immigrant Mission in Western Canada. (See Memorial 305.) Concerning the report of the Immigrant Mission Board for Western Canada, Committee 14 presented the following report: — In Western Canada our work among immigrants is carried on by Missionary J. Herzer under the direction of the committee appointed by Synod. This work has been a blessing to our Church in Western Canada. Approximately 1,164 immigrants, out of some 2,000 with whom contact was made, were, or still are being, taken up into our churches. The reports of these missions are sufficient evidence of this increase. By the kind-hearted cooperation of the Walther League ane many other Christians about 87,000 pounds of clothing, six loads 0 food materials, and more than $10,000 were applied to this work in charity. Because of the recent restriction on immigration this work hag declined: but Canada is a new country and demands development. Furthermore, the present policy of restricted immigration is an emer- gency measure, and almost insurmountable difficulties would attend any attempt to reestablish the work once abandoned.