# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S94
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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months the two remaining members of the Mission Commission then conducted the mission work alone, but then considered it necessary to make use of the right to supplement themselves. Their choice fell on Prof. F. Pieper of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, who to their joy accepted the election until the next Synodical Conference, by which time the term of office of the present Commission will in any case have expired.

Before Christmas of last year a young Negro, by name Nathanael Berkhalter, presented himself to Pastor F. Lochner in Springfield. He was born a slave, came as a boy of 14 with his parents to Illinois, and was for several years in a German family, where he learned to speak, read and write some German. He now wished to learn the German language better. A few weeks after his first visit to Pastor Lochner he wrote to him that he was now reading a very beautiful book, the history of the Cotta family, and that in doing so the wish had awakened in him to find peace too, as Luther once did. As Pastor Lochner liked the open, modest character of this man more and more, he took him into his house on trial, so that he might attend the instruction in the parish school and the services; but he was to submit to the house rules and make himself useful in his free time. Berkhalter agreed to this gladly. He attended the school, the services and the confirmation instruction, was diligent and orderly everywhere, and thus won more and more the love and confidence of all who dealt with him. At the holy Easter festival he received holy baptism, and since he had expressed the wish to become a preacher of the Gospel among the children of Ham, he moved after his baptism from the parsonage to the College, where the professors, whose hearts he had likewise won, wished to try whether he possesses the necessary gifts. The Commission agreed to contribute $50.00 annually toward his support, and, as far as we know, one is quite satisfied both with his diligence and conduct and with his progress.

Finally it should be mentioned that since its last report the Commission has held 43 meetings, which were opened and closed with prayer, and whose proceedings are carefully recorded. In addition, over 200 letters on mission affairs were written and sent in this period. The Commission visited the stations in New Orleans and in Mobile, as already stated in the report.

The undersigned Commission, having now laid before the Hon. Synodical Conference the report of its activity, asks it to approve and confirm the purchase of the church property in New Orleans. The Commission regarded that purchase as indispensable for the prosperity of the mission, and was also urged to it from many sides, so that we, in the event of