# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S50
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

“us ness'.does not warrant the

“the State’ of Illinois as. a:
. unsupported statemént  “ uutlived. “its ‘useful-_
of such a source: of ‘blessing. .
oN At is-an admitted: fact — idmitted by: ‘those who: ‘'seek.:to close’
mo Springfield — that “the institution: shag served ‘Synod faithfully and

oo well; . that its: contribution to the life and' work of Synod has been

. notable; that, in: spite of: hindrances: and handicaps, it -has been :
. thoroughly successful, in-its, work.” We point. out. that. it-is indeed
a strange process of reasoning which from: .these truths. leads to the
conclusion that therefore - the institution ; must be: closed. - Since |
when do. notable. aceomplishments,- faithful, and exceptional: serv- .
\ ice. successful achievement despite: hindrances, and | andicaps, merit
éxtinetion? o Ave
“It. is an ‘admitted fact — admitted by those who ‘propose the
* dloding. of Springfield — that the Springfield system represents a

a legitimate trend in the training ‘of men. for: service. jn: the Church. ve

No one who has the best interests; of the Church at heart wants: to
‘bar the way, into the ministry: to the men’ whom Springfield serves.
‘The proponents of closing Springfield say. that they are’ not: ‘ad-

. + vocating the elimination of the system, but merely the scrapping
- of the physical Properties -where this system has-been operating

exclusively. Again we point ‘out. that befere: the system can be
_ separated from the machinery which made. that system: possible all’
- these years, there must be definite . assurance that, ‘machinery to

carry it on successfully. elsewhere is. available, “That ‘definite as- - .

surance is not forthcoming. . In fact, the experimenits’ which | have
been tried along this line point to many problems which: will re-
“quire more than mere wishful thinking. to solve.

For. ninety-eight years: ‘Springfield : ‘has: ‘done, blessed and sue-
cessful “work., Such a: fount of blessing’ must not be stopped: up
unless: ‘the ‘reasons for doing so. are overwhelming. None have so
far-been advanced — none: ‘are being: advanced : now except those
which time, has worn threadbare. . Pane

~ Synod. ‘has repeatedly refused. to’ ‘close Springfield, for the
. reasons now again brought. forward, and, therefore we. -again ask .
.. Synod ‘to declare: decisively. that, there® is. not only. room in Synod’s

. Educational Program for. the ‘system represented’. by_ the. Spring-
. field ‘institution, but that this system .can.-best: be: sserved. and its
“program best be. carried out where the: necessary ‘experience and

| . the “required facilities ' are: ‘available — at Concordia ‘Theological

“y

“ Seminary, Springfield, mu,

\

THE Board oF Comtnon, oF eon
‘Conconora ‘THEOLOGICAL ‘SEMINARY, SPRINGFIELD, Inu,
B. SELCKE, Secretary ae