# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S87
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1884. 85

also, if they should still have some prejudices against the Negro Mission, soon drop them if they could only once see with their eyes how things go in the Negro schools and churches. It is moving to heart and mind to observe how the black children in the schools learn our Lutheran hymns and sing them with devotion, how they give their attention to the instruction in the catechism and in Bible history and often give such lovely answers. And then one ought also once to be able to attend a service among the Negroes, to see how decorously, decently and attentively the blacks sit there and take the word from the pastor's mouth. In short, God the Lord has already laid his great blessing on this work. How could we give up such a work of love and faith, or want to? The Negroes also have an immortal soul, and they have long been laid at our door. Hence the motion was also made: "That we as a Synodical Conference further promote the Negro Mission and appoint a further missionary."

To this was joined the question: How do we achieve a stronger support of this mission, for which now already the salaries alone require $350.00 a month? In order first to provide a quick remedy for the present need, it was resolved: That the Commission immediately issue an appeal in all the papers of the Synodical Conference, so that we may not already in the next months be without a cent of money.

For the future it was pointed out that our congregations are made too little acquainted with this mission. They are quite willing to give for it if they only learn of it. And that is indeed the main thing, that we draw our congregations into this cause. For this several proposals were made, namely:

a. The Synodical Conference should resolve that all its synods and individual district synods in their annual sessions also make the Negro Mission an object of their discussion.

b. The congregations should be encouraged to regular monthly or quarterly small contributions of about five cents. No large contributions are needed at all if all persons in all our congregations give such a regular small contribution. That already brings together a large sum annually in the whole Synodical Conference.

c. The mission paper should be circulated more by the pastors, and in this paper, as also here and there in the other church organs, much and often should be told about the Negro Mission and encouragement be given for this work. In particular the pastors should here show themselves more active and energetic in drawing their congregations' attention to this matter in sermons and meetings.