# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S13
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

President’s Report 9

President’s Report

-:,- Complying with the rules and regulations laid down for the
‘President of Synod, permit me to render my official report for the
past triennium.

First of all, let us acknowledge the boundless grace and mercy
of our God, which preserved our Church throughout the past three
years. Continued abnormal conditions prevailed throughout our
country. The unemployment situation, drought, and resultant
poverty cut deep gashes into our national life, and for the past year
and nine months the terrible world conflagration has wrought addi-
‘tional havoc and certainly has brought about an abnormal state of
affairs throughout our country. Without doubt, also the work of
the Church has been affected by this general distress. However,
the mercy of God did not fail us. Though not all things could be
undertaken which should have been done, yet the work of the
Church moved steadily forward. To God be praise and glory for
what has been accomplished! °

During the past triennium God, in His unsearchable wisdom,
called both the Honorary President and two of our Vice-Presidents
: from the Church Militant into the Church Triumphant. On Octo-
ber 9, 1939, our beloved Dr. F. Pfotenhauer was taken home. On
December 21, 1938, our faithful and conscientious Vice-President
Karl Kretzschmar departed this life after a brief illness in Fort
Smith, Ark., and on July 16, 1939, our equally faithful and con-
scientious Dr. F. J. Lankenau was suddenly called to his eternal
rest in Kansas City, Mo., whither he had gone to deliver the opening
. Sermon at the International Walther League convention. Further-
more, on December 12, 1939, the Rev. Paul Lindemann, President of.
the English District, after a lingering illness was relieved of all
earthly suffering to enter heaven’s joy, and on March 5, 1940, Dr. R.
- Kretzschmar, for many years President of the Western District and
. a member of many synodical boards and committees, departed to be
with Christ’ in heaven. Others serving Synod on special boards
whom God released from all earthly turmoil and took unto their
heavenly rest were the Rev. W. F. Wilk, a member of Synod’s
Literature Board; the Rev. Wm. Grother, a member of the Board of
Home Missions in North America; the Rev. H. D. Mensing, chairman
f-the Army and Navy Commission; the Rev. F. W.C. J. esse, a mem-
sr of the Committee on Higher Education; Mr. Louis H. Waltke,
hoserved on various committees and remembered Synod with
nerous donations; Mr. Walter J unghans, president of the Board of

ctors of Concordia Publishing House; Mr. Gottlieb Schmidt, for
"35 years a member of the Foreign Mission Board; Mr. H. F. Rohr-