# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1935_S176
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

164 Proceedings of Thirty-Sixth Regular Convention,

great rejoicing undoubtedly the whole Church received the new
through our church-papers that in China two native candidates o
theology, Mr. Pi Pei Yin and Mr. Chen Huai Ren, the first-fruits o
our seminary in Hankow, could be ordained.

The lack of funds which handicapped our endeavors in the pre
ceding triennium became still more acute in the three years now lying
behind us. Your Board was compelled not only to introduce severe
economies with respect to the physical equipment of our missions, the
pay of native workers, and allowance for our missionaries, but also to
cut directly the salaries of the latter, which in many instances
amounted to the infliction of very real hardships.

A number of Projects we have not been able to carry out owing
to the unfavorable financial situation. The Mission Department at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, which is so extremely desirable, is
still merely a dream 3 Dr. N. Leckband, who received his medical
training through the financial help of friends of our Foreign Missions
with the understanding that he serve the Lord abroad, has not yet
been sent to India, although this is doubly necessary now since our
former physician, Miss Bohnsack, married and resigned from our
service; the position of superintendent for our field in India has not
been filled; buildings that are needed could not be erected; new
workers who should be called to fill vacancies we have, with one ex.
ception, as stated above, not been able to call; the expansion of our
work, which should be progressing all the time, had to be checked.
Many Pressing calls and opportunities for mission-work had to be dis-
regarded. One missionary informs us that his station is the center of
a territory where in a small area one hundred thousand heathen are
living, with no one to bring them the Gospel except our men stationed
there. “But what are they among so many ?”

The recommendation adopted by the last convention that, if pos-
sible, former missionaries of proper qualifications be elected to mem-
bership on the Board of Foreign Missions, has been carried out in
part through the election of Rev. F. Forster, who formerly served in
India, as a member of our Board. Several of the brethren whom .
Synod elected were not able to serve, namely, Pastors A. J. Korris and
Theo. Roschke. When they resigned, the Board elected Rev. F. Forster
and Rev. P. H. F, List, both of St. Louis, to take their places.

As suggested by Synod, the Board at St. Louis has endeavored to
increase the efficiency of its work by dividing itself into smaller com-
mittees, one for China, another for India, a third for finances, and
a fourth for special matters requiring immediate action, all of which
report at the regular meetings and submit their resolutions for adop-
tion or approval. Several meetings were held with the members at
large in attendance (plenary meetings). During 1934 the total of
meetings held by your Board and its committees was 55.