# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S298
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

298 Financial Matters

had plenty chances to see how these funds have been waste
on many a boy. I wonder if some one cannot do the Lord a rea
service by putting these funds on a rational and business basis

Our difficulty seems to be that Synod has acted in only ;
very general way, Proceedings 1932, p.79: “All students ought t
be ready to do some manual or other labor at our synodical insti-
tutions.” We are firmly convinced that, unless these responsi-
bilities are definitely tied up with support received, we are not
going to be very successful. These responsibilities and the appre-
ciation of benefits to be received ought to be a part of the original
agreement entered into by the various indigent student boards
when support is Promised. Meeting the argument that it would
be “class legislation” to single out those receiving support, we
would stress that there is always a large percent of students at
every institution of learning who “must work their way through
college,” and it is invariably these students who in later life are
the most successful. It has taken the Government’s N. Y. A.
Program to prove to us what can be accomplished along these
lines. A number of our institutions received substantial aid from
Government agencies, but the funds could not be passed on to
students until work for the benefit of the institution had been
performed. Our chief concern at this time arises from the fact
that this Government help is tapering off, and we would dislike
seeing the good work done come to an abrupt end. Much has
been accomplished, and our institutions, several of which are
experiencing financial difficulties, are very much in need of as-
sistance. Work done by a student need not be paid for at regular
labor costs, and, at the same time, it has a wholesome effect on
the life and attitude of the young man. We well realize that this
matter requires detailed study, and it is therefore our recom-
mendation that Synod refer the subject to the Board of Directors
for further study, and with power to act.

3. Despite almost heroic efforts on the part of the General
Church Extension Board we regret to have to report that our
observations point to the fact that there are far too many church-
extension loans on which the consciousness of obligations seems
either dead or nearly so. When Congregations will let loans ride for
@ series of years without even as much as a partial payment,
something seems decidedly wrong. This condition seems to sug-
gest the need of more direct personal contact between the General
Church Extension Board and the delinquent congregations.

Respectfully submitted by your
Boarp or Avuprrors
Wm. Lorrmann’ W.H. Roscuxe AF. Ratuert