LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1932, Page 112

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150 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention,

Because of present unsettled conditions an
gency policy of our Government in matters of
gration, we recommend —

That the Immigrant Mission be allowed to continue its present
work as carried on in the past three years, awaiting the adoption of
the future immigration policy by our Government;

That the question of the discontinuance of “the separate incor.
poration of our Immigrant Mission Board” be tabled for the time
being;

That in the mean time the Immigrant Mission work, together
with the “Lutheran Immigrant Society, Incorporated,” and its assetg
and holdings, be placed under the supervision of the Atlantic District
of our Synod for a study, a survey of the entire situation,
to Synod or its authorities at such a time as Synod desi

Respectfully submitted
in the name of the Immigrant Mission Board.
Ww. Burcrorr, Secretary.

Committee 14 brought in the following report on the Immigrant
Mission in New York: —

In New York the work among immigrants has declined because

’ of the present emergency restriction on immigration ; however, the
work carried on among aliens in New York and emigrants in Ellis
Island by Missionary G. Gallman has greatly increased. In this work
our missionary is given the opportunity to make contact with thou-
sands of aliens and emigrants and to give them the comfort of God’s
Word. ;

Since the present Government policy of restricting immigration
is an emergency measure, the immigration quota law still being in
force, and since almost insurmountable difficulties would attend any
attempt at reestablishing the work, once abandoned, therefore your
Committee is of the opinion that this work should be continued ac-
cording to the plans of Committee 8, and we recommend that Synod
concur in these resolutions; namely, that the Immigrant Mission in
New York be continued and transferred to the Atlantic District. ,

Synod adopted this report.

Nors. -— Synod instructed its Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot
for the election of the Rev. J. C. Borth, the Rev. Erwin Kurth, Mr. J. C.

Stemmermann, and Mr. Theo. Fischer as trustees of the Lutheran Immi-

grant Society of New York, Inc., to serve until the transfer of the property
of the society can be made.

d the temporary emer.
immigration and emi-

and a report
guates.

Report on the Seamen’s Mission.

During 1931 our missionary, Pastor M. Pinkert, did blessed and
conscientious work among seamen in the harbor of New York. He
reports monthly to the Board which ships he visited and on which day
and how many people he succeeded in approaching each time. During

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Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 151

the past year he visited 662 ships and held 170 services on board ship,
‘th a total attendance of 8,221. 265 services were held at the mission-
mt 1, with an attendance of 11,241. Regular Sunday services and
oo day devotions are held. Thousands of Bible parts and tracts
ne distributed. Such conscientious activity will not remain without
peuit. May God continue to bless these efforts!
Erwin Kurta, Secretary.

Committee 14 reported : — a

The work of the Seamen’s Mission consists in visiting ships and
preaching the Gospel on board ship by the missionary. One hundred
seventy services were held on board ship, and two hundred services
were held in the chapel. A total of 19,000 hearers attended t nese
services. In addition, thousands of tracts and Bible parts are is-
tributed. Our faithful and conscientious missionary, Pastor M. Pin-
kert, is failing in health at the present time.

Your Committee recommends: —

That Synod, through our Immigrant Missionary C. Gallman, send
greetings to Pastor M. Pinkert, commending his consecrated work, ex-
pressing our sympathy, and wishing him Gods blessing ;

That Synod concur in the recommendations of Committee 8
concerning the continuing of the Seamen’s Mission ; namely, to trans-
fer the Seamen’s Mission to the Atlantic District.

Synod adopted this report.

Immigrant Mission in Western Canada.
(See Memorial 305.)

Concerning the report of the Immigrant Mission Board for
Western Canada, Committee 14 presented the following report: —

In Western Canada our work among immigrants is carried on by
Missionary J. Herzer under the direction of the committee appointed
by Synod. This work has been a blessing to our Church in Western
Canada. Approximately 1,164 immigrants, out of some 2,000 with
whom contact was made, were, or still are being, taken up into our
churches. The reports of these missions are sufficient evidence of this
increase. By the kind-hearted cooperation of the Walther League ane
many other Christians about 87,000 pounds of clothing, six loads 0
food materials, and more than $10,000 were applied to this work in
charity.

Because of the recent restriction on immigration this work hag

declined: but Canada is a new country and demands development.

Furthermore, the present policy of restricted immigration is an emer-
gency measure, and almost insurmountable difficulties would attend
any attempt to reestablish the work once abandoned.