# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1949 08 30_S290
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

290

it was about ten miles from there into the country. Pastor and members of the congregation received me very heartily, and on August 31 of the year 1885 I was most solemnly installed into my office as a Lutheran teacher. — Under God's blessing I spent 54 years and 2 months in this office, which became dear to me, and when I look back, I must often marvel at the wonderful leadings of the Lord.
W. Wegener, teacher emeritus

From the Synod

Convention of the Alberta-British Columbia District

The 20th convention of the Alberta-British Columbia District was held from July 5 to 8 at Concordia College in Edmonton.

Vice-President F. A. Hertwig, as representative of the President, preached the sermon at the opening service on the basis of Gen. 12:1, 2. God has richly blessed the Christians of western Canada; therefore, he said, they are now also to become a blessing to others. P. W. C. Eifert, the District President, had chosen John 14:12 for his synodical address: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." P. W. C. Birkner's paper treated the theme: "Christian Stewardship." Gratitude toward God and love toward the neighbor, he said, move Christians to deal in all faithfulness with everything God has given them. Dr. O. H. Schmidt described the great blessing with which God has favored our missions in foreign lands and then pointed to the mission opportunities that present themselves to us.

Executive Secretary W. A. Rädeke gave a comprehensive report on the mission work in the District. Since the territory of our District is twice as large as the State of Texas, our 47 parishes extend far, and our pastors must serve on the average four congregations or mission stations. Since the last District convention in the year 1948 three mission congregations have become self-supporting; 22 are still being subsidized. Seven new churches and two new parsonages were dedicated to the service of the Lord. In spite of the great shortage of pastors in our Synod there are only two vacancies in the District. But we lack the necessary forces to undertake new mission work in Vancouver, Calgary, and at other places.

P. V. Eichenlaub, chairman of the Board of Directors, read the financial report. He pointed out that the gifts of our Christians for all church purposes have increased from year to year. Whereas in the year 1942 they amounted to only $73,000, in the year 1948 they rose to $265,000, so that, whereas the average contribution of our members in the year 1942 was only $10.22, it had reached the sum of $32.12 last year.

Director A. H. Schwermann reported that our Concordia in Edmonton had reached its highest enrollment last year, namely 113, of whom 56 were preparing for the holy ministry and 11 wish to become teachers in our parish schools. The space in the institution is now becoming too cramped. It was therefore resolved to take up a collection next spring for the enlargement of the institution.

The Church Extension Fund has a net amount of $27,000. Congregations at present owe this fund $76,000; consequently $27,000 had to be borrowed from individuals and from the General Church Extension Fund of our Synod.

The base pay (basic salary) of our missionaries was raised to $1,800, with an allowance for children under 16 years.

The Canadian Lutheran Hour is broadcast in western Canada from eleven stations. The costs for it amount to $22,000 for the year, but the gifts for it did not quite reach the sum of $18,000.

In the Sunday School by Mail 782 are enrolled; in the four-day schools 101; in the Sunday schools 2,242; in the summer schools (vacation Bible schools) 1,047.

All in all we may say that our church work in western Canada is richly blessed by God.
V. Eichenlaub

Convention of the International Walther League

"The Lord Jesus Christ Our Hope." This was the motto of the 57th annual convention of the Walther League, from July 10 to 14 in Houston, Tex. From the States of our country and from Canada 750 delegates had come; besides these there were many guests. The opening service, at which President Behnken preached the sermon, was attended by no fewer than 2,500 souls.

The treasurer, Melvin Piepenbrink, Fort Wayne, reported that receipts from dues last year exceeded the sum of $40,000. For the league's paper, The Walther League Messenger, more readers are to be won in the coming year. A Youth Center for Japanese is to be built by the League at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan, and $10,000 is to be collected for it in the coming year. The collection taken for it on the occasion of the convention in Houston yielded the sum of $2,000, of which Mr. Len Heine of Omaha had contributed $1,000.

Re-elected were William J. Zeiter as president, Melvin Piepenbrink as treasurer, Henry W. Buck as member of the executive board. Carl Heldt of Evansville, Ind., was added to this board as a new member.

God willing, the League will meet next year in Denver and in the year 1951 in St. Louis.
J. H. C. F.

This and That. In Minneapolis a University Chapel is being built by us. Its cornerstone was laid on August 16, at the time of the convention of the Minnesota District. — Our congregation in Crete, Ill., is observing the 100th anniversary of its founding this year. A new church, for which $70,000 has already been gathered, is to be built this year. How economic conditions too have changed in the course of the hundred years! At that time the farmer received only seven cents for a bushel of oats, and of that he had to pay two cents for threshing. — Trinity Congregation in Spring, Tex., celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding. As early as the year 1866 several