# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1879_S38
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 38 —

all its weakness and unfitness has been able to do for the extension of the Kingdom of God among the poor Negroes; yet it hopes that its labour has not been in vain in the LORD. Since last year's report it has held 18 meetings, recorded all proceedings in minutes, received and answered a large number of letters, and so forth. By God's grace two Evangelical Lutheran Negro congregations have already been organized, with well-attended weekday and Sunday schools; besides this, there is a third preaching place with a church building of its own. Truly, we have much cause to thank the LORD that He has deemed us worthy to build His kingdom through us also among the children of Ham. May He let us recognize such grace ever more, and make us ever more zealous and faithful to carry on His work. May He also give us faithful laborers in this field of labor; for here too the field is ripe for the harvest, and the laborers are few.

"In conclusion the Commission takes the liberty of submitting the following points to the Honorable Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] for deliberation, or resolution:

1. Whether the Honorable Synodical Conference wants to buy, through the Commission, for the mission the property of the congregation in Sherman, Texas, if there is still time for it. Only $200.00 is due at once, the rest to be paid later. Much of it has been borrowed in small sums from congregations and private persons and might perhaps partly be given as a gift. The whole debt amounts to $1084.90.

2. That the Honorable Synodical Conference leave the Mount Zion Negro congregation founded by Pastor J. F. Döscher in New Orleans, which he with great emphasis calls 'his congregation,' 'from which no one shall separate him,' to him also as his congregation, but without recognizing Pastor Döscher any longer as a missionary of the Synodical Conference; further, that the colored teacher Polk, whom we assigned to Pastor Döscher as assistant at his urgent wish at last after long deliberation, be left to him for the time being as teacher at the school, so that the congregation, which cannot exist without a school, may not go to ruin again.

3. Since the wife of the much-mentioned Lewis is a Methodist, the Commission is of the opinion that it is better to give up his training as missionary, unless he provides the means for it himself.

4. The Commission proposes that the work of the mission be taken in hand in Mobile, Ala., also, and a new missionary appointed for it. We agree with the dear congregation in Mobile that the mission be carried on not on the side by pastors of white congregations, but by Negro missionaries called especially for it, and we take the liberty of drawing attention to Pastor Loose of the Honorable Ohio Synod.

5. Since we have found from experience that it is very hard to obtain white missionaries for service among the Negroes; since it further