| The New York Ministerium decided in 1861 to start a ministry to protect Lutheran
immigrants, especially at the port of New York. By 1862 the Pennsylvania Synod had agreed
and the Rev. Robert Neumann, formerly a missionary in China, undertook the work, the first
forerunner of today's Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). After the
organization of the General Council, oversight of the immigrant work was entrusted to it,
and the Rev. William Berkemeier zealously sought the establishment of an institution in
which the immigrants could lodge. The building at No. 26 State Street was purchased in
1873 and served for 25 years to house 227,035 guests. Over 33,000 were lodged without pay,
and 20,270 were furnished with free meals, from total contributions of $17,614.95 for
Emigrant Mission and $10,389.99 "for poor immigrants."
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