# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S43
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1888. 43

ence. For a year and a half the people were now without a missionary; nevertheless they had held together faithfully and asked us again and again that we should not reject them but give them a missionary; they so much wanted to remain Lutheran and could no longer go to the churches of the sects. Pastor Oehlschläger supported their requests most strongly and reported that several Negroes living in the neighborhood had declared themselves ready to join if only a missionary were there who could instruct them. What was the Commission now to do? On one side there was, to be sure, the resolution of the Rev. Synodical Conference to discontinue the station; but on the other side there were the ever-repeated, indeed touching requests of the people not to reject them; there were the most credible assurances that for conscience' sake they could not and would not go to any other church but would remain with the Lutheran church. These requests and assurances were confirmed by the fact that even without a missionary they held together firmly and faithfully for over 1½ years and, despite repeated negative replies, would not be turned away but only became ever more urgent in their requests, supported by the judgment of an experienced brother in office who had repeatedly negotiated with the people on the spot and observed them. Under such circumstances the Commission could do nothing else than yield to the requests of the dear people. We turned to Springfield, and at the beginning of February Student Schroff traveled to Meherrin and was introduced to the members by Pastor Oehlschläger. At the next service there were some 60 hearers, mostly adults, and 12 enrolled for instruction with a view to joining the congregation. The congregation numbers 28 souls, among them 8 communicant members. The service is attended by 57 persons. The Sunday school numbers 52, the weekday school 40 pupils; 13 receive special instruction. By what has been done your Commission wanted only to provide a provisional remedy. Since this could be done with relatively small means, we ask the Rev. Synodical Conference to approve our course of action. What shall be done in future with regard to Meherrin this Rev. body will itself have to determine.

IV. Springfield, Ill.

Quite unsought we have acquired a new station in Springfield, Ill. Here Prof. H. Wyneken was urgently asked by some Negroes to set up a service and Sunday school for Negroes. These were such Negroes as had earlier, 6 to 8 years ago, attended the Negro Sunday school which Prof. Wyneken at that time held with the help of some students. Although at first he had no desire at all to begin the matter again, because he had had so little success, he nevertheless had to