# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S214
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

214 Reports and Action on Various Mission-Fields

Report of the Board of Missions in South America .
(Memorial 407)

Your Board of Missions for South America begs leave to
submit the following report.

During the past triennium your Board has lost its oldest
member and faithful treasurer. Mr. Henry F.Rohrman was sud-
denly called to his eternal reward in November, 1939. Death came
while he was in his office busily engaged in his daily occupation.

Mr. Rohrman’s service in behalf of our Missions in South
America extended over a period of nineteen consecutive years,
dating from the time when our South American and our European
mission-work were under the supervision of one Board. He loved
this work and cheerfully and conscientiously gave of his time,
efforts, and money to further it to the glory of his Savior and
Redeemer, whom he loved and faithfully served.

Mr. Rohrman rendered additional service to his Church. He
was a member of the Army and Navy Board during the First
World War. Locally he served on the boards of various charitable
and educational institutions in addition to his extensive work in
behalf of his local congregation. Synod has reason to be duly
-grateful for the services rendered by its many humble, con-
secrated, and self-sacrificing laymen such as Mr. Rohrman.

Mr. Harry Jost of Chicago was appointed by President J. W.
Behnken to take the place of Mr. Rohrman on your Board. He
has been appointed treasurer of the Board, a position which he
now holds.

Under the blessing of God the work of our faithful pastors
and missionaries shows a healthy spiritual and numerical progress
in all four countries of South America in which we are actively
engaged in preaching the saving Gospel. This is cause for sincere
gratitude and rejoicing, especially in view of the various difficulties
which have been encountered. We shall enumerate some of these.

Because of the “Nationalization Program” effective in Brazil
we can no longer send North American missionaries to Brazil.
The “tourist visa” under which our men would enter Brazil gives
permission to remain for a period of only six months. After this
period the missionary must return to the United States, or he
must institute expensive proceedings to obtain permission to re-
main in the country. The outcome of these proceedings is at best
very uncertain. Obviously it would be most impracticable and
useless to send North American men to Brazil under these con-
ditions,

The Seminary at Porto Alegre cannot graduate sufficient men
to fill the vacancies, let alone enough men to occupy new territories.
Hence the men who are already in the field and are serving