# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S429
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

> Report af Board for, Higher Education . oe * * 429

ns the ‘conclusions and recommendations of the Board. on
gns -arising out of the survey as well as on matters
equested by Synod.

that: the full and free discussion of the various proposals,

\THE PROBLEMS OF GENERAL HIGHER
“EDUCATION AND CO-EDUCATION

A. A Brief Historical Review

Bie: report of the specific facts collected by our survey should
eceded by a number of statements concerning general trends
ynod’s educational system during the past twenty-five years.
sini e.the early days of its establishment in America, the Missouri
id: "has provided for the training of pastors and teachers. It
assumed the obligation to train its pastors in its own system
ools. through secondary, higher, and seminary levels. Early
history it also provided the. training of teachers for its exten-
e. lementary parish school system. In its provision of funds
bs) the synodical treasury. | for the training of elementary school
: ichers. and in many other. ways it has given evidence of. its deep
terest in the great need for a system.of general Christian education
arate from that of the publicly controlled schools. As a corporate
,» however, Synod has’ not undertaken the establishment of
mentary, secondary, or college education for the general student.
It is true that in the year 1838 several of the young men (T. H.
Brohm, O. Fuerbringer, F. Buenger) who had emigrated from Ger-
y decided to found a college for general education in this
‘ountry. Together with Pastor C. F. W. Walther they began this
dertaking, in Perry County. It appears, however, that the great
‘need for pastors soon directed their attention almost exclusively to
theological training, and the original purpose was submerged. The
stitution soon transferred to Altenburg and in 1850 to St. Louis
under the name of Concordia College. ‘In these first ten years of
existence it graduated five students who became pastors of the

When Synod accepted the institution in 1850, the conditions of
transfer stipulated that the institution should provide pastors and
teachers for the Church, that. it remain a’ @ymnasium to prepare for

enter the service of the Church might be accepted, the contributions

ailable for their benefit. Thus the first college of the Missouri
Synod was restricted quite definitely to professional preparation for

the’. theological seminary, and that while persons not planning to

which the school.received from the Church should. not be ‘made: