# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S86
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 86 —

they asked for the early dispatch of a missionary, and in heartfelt words expressed their thanks for all the love shown them. The letter bore 26 signatures of men and women. Yet the mission at Little Rock was still to suffer more losses.

In February 1882 Teacher Jeske informed us that he had been called by the congregation at Jackson, Mich., and, as he was convinced that he was not suited to be a teacher at a Negro mission school, he asked for the Commission's consent to accept the call to Jackson. After conscientious deliberation we had to give our consent, though with the request that Mr. Jeske stay until we had found someone for Little Rock.

The faculty at Springfield, Ills., gave us hope that we might obtain a missionary for Little Rock from the graduating class. But it was still four months to the examination. We could not keep Teacher Jeske so long; we were in great embarrassment. But God helped. Through the mediation of Dr. Walther we succeeded in winning Student C. Crämer from the seminary at St. Louis to take over the congregation and school in Little Rock until a new missionary should arrive.

Student Crämer now had much to do. On Sundays he preached and held Sunday school, during the week he held weekday school and visited the Negroes. Teacher Wente of the German congregation in Little Rock played the organ at the services, and otherwise also taught the Negroes to sing the Lutheran hymns. Through Mr. Crämer's truly self-sacrificing activity the mission work in school and church revived anew by God's grace. Pastor H. C. Schwan, the general president of the Missouri Synod, had visited Little Rock too on a journey back from the South and had taken a closer look at the Negro Mission there. He expressed his conviction that Little Rock was a promising field for our mission, and encouraged the Commission to station a missionary there again as soon as possible.

On the 6th Sunday after Trinity Candidate E. Meiländer from the seminary at Springfield was ordained and installed as missionary among the Negroes and pastor of the Negro congregation in Little Rock. He found a warm and friendly reception among the Negroes. The services and school are well attended, and Missionary Meiländer is working with blessing. The school has about 60 pupils.

2. New Orleans.

At the time of the previous convention of the Synodical Conference this mission was without a missionary. It had a teacher in the person of the former Negro pastor Polk, to whom an assistant teacher was later added, the colored Miss L. Watson, a member of the Negro congregation in New