# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1878_S60
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 60 —

"In the meantime Missionary Döscher has continued his reconnoitering journey through the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The Word found especially willing reception on the plantations in Tensas and Madison Counties in Louisiana, where in his conviction two missionaries would find full and rewarding work; further in New Orleans, La., in Mobile, Ala., and in Florida. New Orleans counts over 85,000 Negroes, among them in a single ward alone over 10,000 who speak only French, and among whom little or no mission work is being done. In regard to this the undersigned recently received a letter from a French pastor in New Orleans, which letter is enclosed. Missionary Döscher preached much in New Orleans, often before a numerous audience. The Sunday school begun by him and continued by the pastors, teachers and several members of our congregations there had in the middle of May already 156 pupils, among them 35 adults, who especially desire preaching. The advisory mission committee there asks that a capable missionary and a teacher be sent to New Orleans as soon as possible, and that besides Missionary Döscher be stationed there, which your Board endorses. In New Orleans it has been possible to obtain, free of charge for the purposes of the mission, a very spacious and suitably located room, the property of a German lady; only a trifle has to be paid for cleaning it.

"In Mobile, Ala., also the work is advancing briskly. Here likewise an advisory mission committee has been elected, which continues the mission work begun there by Missionary Döscher. It reported on 23 June that we have in Mobile a black Sunday school of over 200 pupils, among them a third adults. Here too preaching and a weekday school are desired. The advisory committee there urgently asks that a capable missionary be sent to it at once, and then also that a room, of which there is great need, be fitted up, which there, given the abundance of wood and labor, could be done very cheaply. Further, a capable teacher should likewise be sent there.

"Also in the state of Florida the most promising prospects exist for the prosperity of the Negro Mission. For the schools in Little Rock, New Orleans and Mobile there were procured Primers, New Testaments, English catechisms, melodeons and other things, according to need and demand, as the treasurer's report shows.

"From what has been said so far, as from the reports already printed, the Reverend Synodical Conference will gain the conviction that the work resolved upon only a year ago has already made gratifying progress and promises quite significant successes for the future. If we only had the means and the necessary workers, your Board of Missions could at once appoint 6 more missionaries, and they would have plenty to do.