LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1932, Page 109

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144 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention,

here. Of Chinese helpers we have 4 evangelists and g number of

in China represents a value of about $52,325 in our money.

The books of our treasurer, Mr. W. Lehr, show that in 1929 we
sent $246,672.68 to our fields in the Orient; in 1930 (the fi
ing eleven months), $216,261.33; in 1931, $255,839.41.

The term question (pertaining to the name for God to be used by
our missionaries in China), while stil] being discussed in some of our
circles here in America, has, as far as we know, not been a disturbing
factor in our missions in China during the last three years,

In India the caste question had become the subject of extended
debates among our missionaries. To help in the settlement of it and
likewise to assist in the solving of other problems, as well as to main-
tain intimate contact with the Church abroad, a delegation was sent
to our field in India, consisting of Prof. M. S. Sommer, the chairman
of the Board, and Rev. H. M. Zorn, one of the members of the Board
at large. They left for India in J uly, 1930, and returned early in 1931.
Largely as a result of their visit we can say that the caste controversy

ures cover.

» Many-
sided, complicated problem can be settled. In many other ways the

visit of the delegation has proved beneficial. We hope the convention
will give these brethren an opportunity to report to it in person.

Our missionaries continued their very important efforts to edu-
cate nationals of India and China for the position of Christian pas-
tors, teachers, evangelists, and catechists, Our high schools, for lack
of funds, we regret to say, are not equipped as they should be. Be-
sides, we lack the proper teaching force, as it is impossible for us, in
the face of huge deficits, to call the Christian teachers from our ranks
in this country, with whom we really ought to man our high schools.
We wish to commend our missionaries who have served as instructors
in our high schools and seminaries in India and China for their faith-
ful work. In India there has been an interruption of two years at the
seminary, the students having been sent to various congregations to
serve as vicars. This year the seminary will be reopened.

When last fall the floods in China brought disaster to vast multi-
tudes of the stricken area, the Board of Relief of Synod, with the
approval of the Board of Directors, put at our disposal a considerable
sum of money, part of which was at once sent to China and used by

as

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 145

our missionaries for the alleviation of want and suffering, while the
remainder will be sent as soon as it can be used for rehabilitation
purposes.

With respect to India your Board has decided to call a brother
as missionary who will be entrusted with special duties, going to India
to serve as superintendent of the field. He will be expected to be a
fatherly adviser and guide to our missionaries, most of whom are very
young men. We hope that this institution will prove a great blessing
to the missionaries and likewise to the home Board, which the brother
will represent. For India we finally were so fortunate as to secure
a physician, Miss Bohnsack, who has been in India now for several
years. We hope that soon a young brother who was educated for the
ministry and in addition has received a full medical training will be
able to enter the work in India as medical missionary.

The Mission Department at Concordia Seminary which the con-
vention of Synod in 1929 encouraged us to establish has not yet be-
come a reality, as several difficulties have arisen. The former resi-
dence of Dr. F. Pieper (Winnebago St. and Texas Ave., St. Louis) has
been put at our disposal by the Board of Directors of Synod in con-
sideration of a low monthly rental and is used by us for the housing
of missionaries who have returned here on furlough.

Our appropriation having been cut considerably, it will be im-
possible for us this year to call new workers. We are contemplating
sending two new missionaries to India and one to China, men who
were called last year and accepted the call, but who, in order to con-
tinue their studies or for other reasons, did not proceed to the Orient
at once. In addition we shall have to send the medical missionary
referred to above, Dr. Leckband, to India, to assist and relieve Dr.
Bohnsack, and, besides, a lady teacher and a nurse to take the place
of two workers coming home on furlough. To China a nurse will have
to be sent to take the place of one of our nurses, whose furlough is
due. If these workers cannot be added to the forces abroad, we fear
the respective phases of our activities will be seriously crippled.

Even though receipts are low, we have to ask Synod to make an
appropriation for our land and building treasury, there being some
items which permit of no delay. The brethren in India and China
have submitted estimates as to their needs with respect to lands and
buildings for 1933—1935, the total being $318,488.34, Realizing the
great financial difficulties with which Synod is confronted, your Board
has mercilessly eliminated from the items requested everything that
did not appear absolutely necessary and asks that at least $69,664 be

appropriated for this treasury for the triennium 1933—1935. We hope
Synod will instruct the Fiscal Conference to increase this amount
with the advent of better times, since the sum asked for is barely
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