# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S182
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

182. an Missions

Report of Board of Missions to Deaf and Blind
; (Memorial 407) , oO

Again we look back over another three years of faithful work
in the Missions to the Deaf and Blind. Again all glory be to God!

The year 1944 marks the forty-eighth anniversary of Synod’s
work among the deaf and the seventeenth year of work among the
blind. May God continue to bless this work.

The past triennium has perhaps been the most trying in these
missions because of the many vacancies that occurred and the
many changes that became necessary. It pleased God at the end
of 1941 to. summon within three months two of our missionaries
from this vale of tears to the Church Triumphant: Pastor Arthur
Boll, who had for forty years served in this mission, and Pastor
William Gielow, who, after his work at the School for the Deaf
in Detroit, Mich., served for several years in this mission to the
deaf. In.1942 one missionary after eighteen years of service to
‘the deaf accepted a call to a hearing congregation; and in the same
year another became a chaplain in the Army and a third resigned.
Thus in that short time one fourth of the missionaries left the work,
Indeed, a large gap to fill. .

In 1941 Pastor C. Bremer was successfully called to be assistant
chiefly in the work among the Blind. Pastor W. Westermann was
transferred from the Seattle field to the Memphis, Tenn., field;
and in 1942 Pastor A. Jonas, from the South Dakota field to the
Seattle field; and Pastor F.Possehl, from the Oklahoma field to
the New York field; and Pastor R. Cordes, from the Canadian field
to the St. Paul, Minn., field. The following new men were called
into the mission in 1942: Pastor N. Zellmer to ‘the Portland, Oreg.,
field, Pastor W. Uhlig to the Los Angeles field, Pastor J. Streit to
the: Oklahoma field, and Pastor A. Lutz to the South Dakota field.
Late in 1943 Pastor Lutz was successfully called to also be associate
Pastor in the Minneapolis field. Pastor E.B. Fox of Calgary,
Canada, was asked for the present to do part-time work in Canada,
Last, but not least, Pastor John Salvner, who has served in the
mission to the deaf for forty-two years has been appointed as «
“administrative assistant” to the Board. This was done in Feb-
ruary, 1943, but because of the shortage of men he was not able
to enter upon his work until the beginning of 1944, Through his
efforts, by the grace of God, we look forward to a better co-ordina-.
tion and promotion of all work done in the various fields.

Since September, 1943, your Board has engaged for the first -
time some internes. We are convinced that this. will prove very -
profitable, , ue