# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S86
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

84 Proceedings of the tenth convention

more before the eyes. 2.) To reconnoitre the rural districts of Louisiana from New Orleans, in order to establish where chiefly the Negro population that lives wholly without God's Word is to be found, and how to work among them. If it turns out to be certain, as is to be expected, that in these rural districts, on account of the climate, only Negroes can work, to set up in New Orleans a so-called *Selecta* [select class], in which Negro boys would receive the preparatory training for service in church and school. The material for it is at hand in our Negro congregation schools, and our missionary in New Orleans has also already repeatedly pointed to this measure and considered the possibility of carrying it out. It will stand as a rule that we can work successfully only with such Negroes as have been brought up in our Lutheran schools. Whether it is time to extend the Negro Mission into a foreign mission — as was envisaged from the beginning and has now been suggested anew — we leave to the consideration of the Venerable Synodical Conference.

In the name and by commission of the Mission Commission of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America

St. Louis, Mo., 30 August [as printed] 1884. F. Pieper.

The following points came up after this report for discussion, resp. resolution:

1. To the question whether Pastor Sapper, since he has moved from St. Louis to Bloomington, should remain a member of the Commission, the Conference answered unanimously: Yes, and added that Pastor Sapper's travelling expenses are to be reimbursed from the mission treasury.

2. That the Commission had had itself incorporated in the interest of the Synodical Conference, so that the property of the mission would be secured to the Synodical Conference, was generally approved.

3. The third question: Shall the Negro Mission be seriously carried on further, and therefore, first, a further Negro missionary be appointed in New Orleans? was subjected to a lengthy discussion.

The occasion of this question was the participation in this work, which has become ever smaller in recent times.

First it was reported by various persons who had visited the stations in part or wholly what a good beginning this mission has already made, when one compares it with the beginnings of other heathen missions. Then it surprises no one and makes no one who has a heart for mission discouraged if in the first years very little or almost nothing is achieved. Here, however, much has already been achieved. All members and congregations of the Synodical Conference would surely