LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1914, Page 41

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14. Delegatenſynode von Miſſouri, Ohio u. a. St. 1914. 41

werde, da alle in die Baukaſſe fließenden Gelder auf Beſchluß der
Synode zunächſt für den Seminarbau in River Foreſt verwendet wer⸗
den ſollten. Darum empfahl die Allgemeine Aufſichtsbehörde in jener
Verſammlung, die Collegefarm zu verkaufen, falls wir dafür einen an⸗
nehmbaren Preis bekommen würden. Dieſe Empfehlung wurde zum
Beſchluß erhoben. Die Collegefarm wurde nach eingeholter Zuſtim⸗
mung aller Diſtriktspräſides zu dem höchſten Angebote, nämlich für
$50,000, verkauft und aus dem Erlös der Farm die Bauſumme für den
neuen Eßſaal genommen. $30,000 wurden dem Allgemeinen Kaſſierer
geliehen.

Nachdem der Rechtsgelehrte der Firma, welche die Collegefarm
gekauft hat, den “charter” unſerer Anſtalt und den “deed” der Farm
geſehen hatte, verlangte er in erſter Linie einen deed von der hieſigen
Aufſichtsbehörde und dann erſt von den Beamten der Allgemeinen
Synode. Ja, er ſagte ſpäter, wenn er den vierten Synodalbericht,
Seite 41, und den 18. Synodalbericht (3. Delegatenſynode), Seite 63,
gehabt hätte, dann hätte er überhaupt keinen „deed“ von den Beamten
der Allgemeinen Synode verlangt, denn dieſe Stellen und die Worte
im “charter” ſowie der “deed” zeigten ihm klar, daß das Verkaufsrecht
allein in den Händen der hieſigen Aufſichtsbehörde liege. Das hat uns
veranlaßt, den “charter” des College, den Kaufbrief der Collegefarm
und einſchlägige Synodalberichte genau durchzuleſen. Wir ſind dadurch
zu der überzeugung gekommen, daß die Farm der Anſtalt
in Fort Wayne gehört, daß darum wir als Truſtees geſetzlich
verpflichtet ſind, die $50,000 für dieſe Anſtalt zu beanſpruchen
und für dieſelbe zu verwenden. Eine Ehrw. Synode wolle uns erlauben,
dieſe unſere überzeugung begründen zu dürfen. Wir finden:

I. a) daß vor Jahren hier in Fort Wayne eine Anſtalt gegründet
worden iſt, die am 21. Januar 1850 im Staate Indiana als “a Semi-
nary in the County of Allen” inkorporiert worden iſt (Synodalhand⸗
buch 1888, S. 66; 1899, S. 84);

b) daß die Synode beſchloſſen hat, daß „die Kaufbriefe des Semi⸗
nars auf die Mitglieder der Aufſichtsbehörde über⸗
ſchrieben werden“ (4. Synodalber., S. 41);

c) daß infolge dieſes Beſchluſſes die Synode auch die ſogenannte
Collegefarm der Fort Wayner Anſtalt, reſp. deren Aufſichtsbehörde, über⸗
ſchrieben hat (“Granted to and set out for the sole use and benefit and
the maintenance” dieſer Anſtalt, “being established in the County of
Allen and State of Indiana”. Recorded in Deed Book K., pp. 682 ff.,
Records of Allen County, May 27, 1851);

d) daß urſprünglich der Name dieſer Anſtalt “in the County of
Allen” dieſer war: „Deutſches Theologiſches Seminar der deutſchen
Evangeliſch⸗Lutheriſchen Synode von Miſſouri, Ohio und anderen Staa⸗
ten“ (18. Synodalber., 3. Delegatenſynode, S. 63. German Theo-
logical Seminary of the German Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri,
Ohio, and other States. (Synodalhandbuch 1888, S. 68. 69; 1899,
S. 86. 87);

14th Delegate Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, 1914. 41

would be on hand by the end of this triennium, since, by resolution
of the Synod, all money flowing into the building fund was to be
used first for the seminary building at River Forest. The General
Board of Control therefore recommended at that meeting that the
College Farm be sold, provided we could get an acceptable price for
it. This recommendation was adopted as a resolution. The College
Farm was, after obtaining the consent of all the district
presidents, sold to the highest bidder, namely for $50,000, and the
proceeds of the farm were taken as the building sum for the new
dining hall. $30,000 was lent to the General Treasurer.

After the attorney for the firm that had bought the College Farm had
seen the "charter" of our institution and the "deed" to the farm, he
demanded, in the first instance, a deed from the local board of
control, and only then from the officers of the General Synod.
Indeed, he said afterward that, had he had the Fourth Synodical
Report, page 41, and the 18th Synodical Report (3rd Delegate Synod),
page 63, he would not have demanded any "deed" from the officers of
the General Synod at all, since these passages and the wording in
the "charter" as well as in the "deed" showed him clearly that the
right of sale rested solely in the hands of the local board of
control. This led us to read through carefully the "charter" of the
college, the deed of purchase for the College Farm, and the relevant
synodical reports. We have thereby become convinced that the farm
belongs to the institution at Fort Wayne, and that we, as trustees,
are therefore legally obligated to claim the $50,000 for this
institution and to use it for its benefit. May the Reverend Synod
permit us to substantiate this our conviction. We find:

I. a) that years ago an institution was founded here in Fort Wayne,
which on January 21, 1850, was incorporated in the State of Indiana
as "a Seminary in the County of Allen" (Synodical Handbook 1888, p.
66; 1899, p. 84);

b) that the Synod resolved that "the deeds of purchase of the
seminary be transferred to the members of the board of control" (4th
Synodical Report, p. 41);

c) that, in consequence of this resolution, the Synod also
transferred the so-called College Farm to the Fort Wayne
institution, respectively its board of control ("Granted to and set
out for the sole use and benefit and the maintenance" of this
institution, "being established in the County of Allen and State of
Indiana." Recorded in Deed Book K., pp. 682 ff., Records of Allen
County, May 27, 1851);

d) that the original name of this institution "in the County of
Allen" was as follows: "Deutſches Theologiſches Seminar der deutſchen
Evangeliſch-Lutheriſchen Synode von Miſſouri, Ohio und anderen
Staaten" (18th Synodical Report, 3rd Delegate Synod, p. 63. German
Theological Seminary of the German Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri,
Ohio, and other States. (Synodical Handbook 1888, pp. 68, 69; 1899,
pp. 86, 87);