# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1849 07 10_S179
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

179

old commercial house of H.. began to totter; through renewed exertion, however, the firm recovered, and would certainly have come to its old splendor, if our friend, young H..., had not, with all his means and extensive credit, allied himself with the commercial house of Br..., and in partnership with it thrown himself into the same business which the old firm of H... had formerly carried on in so brilliant a manner. During the momentary tottering of the old house it was so much the easier for them to push the business on a large scale, and to put themselves into all the commercial connections in which the old house of H... had formerly stood. Thus all the sources flowed to them, and the old firm is left high and dry, that is, apparently at least ruined; and all this through the ingratitude of our H..., through whom the house that made him great and rich has sunk, and the strange house of Br..., to which he had no obligations whatever, has risen to high standing.

C. Shame, that is abominable! Does he then not help the old H... now?

P. He is said to let a few crumbs flow to him now and then as alms, and to boast of it besides, as though he did something great!

C. No, that is really too abominable; I hope at least that the whole city despises him!

P. By no means! The true friends of the old house look upon him, to be sure, with indignation, and are even now about to help the old firm up again by vigorous support. Meanwhile, by a benevolence paraded for show toward smaller merchants, whom he sets on, and who of course in turn buy from him, and by the splendor of his house, he has not only a great following, but stands in high esteem among his fellow citizens and far and wide.

C. Well, I am not just envious of that esteem! But how is it only possible that a man can act so, and the others be so perverse as still to esteem him?

P. That I cannot explain, to be sure; but it ought not to be hard for you.

C. For me? I beg you, why for me?

P. Because you find yourself in the same position as our friend H...!

C. I? How do you come to say such a thing to me?

P. Because it is the truth, and I give you credit enough to believe you can bear the truth!

C. Pray, explain yourself more plainly; I am curious indeed where this is going.

(To be continued.)

(Submitted.)

Constitution of the Publishing Society of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States.

§ 1. The Society which hereby constitutes itself under the name "Publishing Society of the German Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States" aims at the cheapest possible and widest distribution of orthodox Ev. Lutheran school books and books of edification, with special regard to the writings of the blessed Dr. Martin Luther. Only such books are recognized as orthodox as agree in their contents with the Holy Scripture and with all the Symbols of the Ev. Lutheran Church, namely: the three Chief Symbols, the unaltered Augsburg Confession and its Apology, the Smalcald Articles, Dr. Luther's Large and Small Catechism, and the Formula of Concord.

§ 2. Only the following can become a member of the Society:

a. Every minister and schoolteacher standing in connection with the said Synod.

b. Every voting member of a congregation either belonging to the Synodical connection, or served by a minister of our connection.

§ 3. One becomes a member of the Society by the purchase of at least one share (certificate of loan), which shares, to be sure, can pass to a third person without losing their value, but make the same a member of the Society only when the conditions named in § 2 are fulfilled. Those who at the purchase of one or more shares were entitled to membership under § 2, but later perhaps leave the Synodical connection, or cease to be members of a congregation belonging to the Synod or served by a member of the Synod, cease thereby, without prejudice to the validity of their shares, at the same time to be members of the Society.

§ 4. The capital necessary for the attainment of the purpose of the Society shall be procured by the sale of shares, each at $5. As soon as 140 shares are placed, the operations of the Society shall begin.

§ 5. The shares are redeemed by the Society in installments by delivery of writings published by it.

§ 6. Should, after the redemption of all shares and the payment of all obligations of the Society, a considerable surplus be found, a premium, payable in printed matter, shall be awarded to the holder of each share according to the decision of the regular annual meeting.

§ 7. After the redemption of all shares, the payment of all debts, as also the respective distribution of the premiums, the property of the Society becomes the possession of the Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States, on the condition that the same

a. transfer to the Society, during its existence, the printing of its Synodical Proceedings and of other printing work, with the sole exception of the Lutheraner, at the customary prices;

b. in taking over the property, pursue at all times the purpose stated in § 1.

§ 8. Three fifths of the amount of each share are paid in at the taking over of the same, the remainder within five months.

§ 9. The Society assembles annually at the time and place of the Synodical convention and elects for three years at a time a Publishing Board consisting of eight members of the Society, of whom at least four must belong to the teaching profession.

§ 10. It is the duty of the Publishing Board:

a. To safeguard the collective rights of the Society.

b. To arrange the purchase of a printing office, etc., as soon as $800 are available in the treasury for this purpose.

c. To conduct the supervision of the business management of the Society.

d. To attend to the selection of the writings to be published, the proofreading of the same, etc.

e. After receiving the report of the manager, to fix the prices of the published writings, wherein the Board must always keep in view the purpose of the Society, to distribute orthodox writings at the lowest possible prices.

§ 11. If the Publishing Board has agreed upon the printing of a writing, it announces the intended publication of the same in the Lutheraner. Every member has the right to lodge a protest with the secretary of the Society against the printing of such a writing, within two months after the appearance of the respective announcement; should half of the members thus protest, the publication of such writing is omitted.

§ 12. The Publishing Board elects from its midst for three years at a time:

a. A President, who presides both in the meetings of the Board and at the annual general meeting. In his absence the assembly appoints a president pro tempore.

b. A Secretary, who (if present) keeps the minutes at the meetings of the Board and of the Society, takes the archives of the Society into custody, conducts the correspondence of the Society, and furnishes an annual report on the activity of the Society.

c. A Manager residing at the place of publication, who receives the moneys of the Society, and expends them upon the written direction of a majority of the Board, keeps exact account of them, oversees the printing office, attends to the shipping of the writings, keeps exact account of this likewise. and furnishes the secretary of the Board quarterly, but the Society itself annual, reports on the condition of the treasury, etc.

The Manager has to give a security, to be determined by the Publishing Board according to circumstances, for the sufficiency of which the members of the Board are answerable with their real and personal property.