# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1894_S64
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

64 Proceedings of the fifteenth convention

labor and effort was nil, and it had to appear to us an useless waste of our strength to let this station continue longer.

Our mission papers, of which the "Missions-Taube" [Mission Dove] is printed in 16,000 copies and the "Lutheran Pioneer" in 5000 copies, have brought in a net profit of $2301.97 in the last two years, namely the "Missions-Taube" $1979.65 and the "Lutheran Pioneer" $322.32. These papers could certainly have a much larger circle of readers and so not only awaken more mission zeal but also yield a larger profit for the mission treasury, if the many pastors and teachers in our large body would take the spreading of them more to heart. — The Commission has also, during the last two years, held a regular meeting every month, and extra meetings as needed; all proceedings are exactly minuted, and a lively correspondence is maintained with our missionaries, who have to send in a statistical report from their mission field every three months.

After this general survey we now want to present the individual stations briefly.

I. Little Rock, Arkansas.

The St. Paul's congregation in Little Rock is our oldest station and was founded as early as 1877. It has suffered greatly through frequent changes of mission workers and long vacancies. It is among the stations whose discontinuance we deliberated, in case we had to restrict our mission work for lack of support and the members there could be otherwise provided for churchwise. The latter, however, is hardly possible. For two years Missionary C. H. Rüßkamp has been working at this station. He writes: "When I took up my office here two years ago, it looked sad. Church attendance was very bad; 8 to 15 persons was all one saw in church. Through the vacancy that had occurred everything was disordered, and abuses of the saddest kind had crept in. But with praise and thanks to God I can say: It is going better. We have gained something in numbers. The congregation counts 47 souls, among them 11 men and 13 women. Two men, good, influential members, died in faith in Christ. The services are now attended by 40 to 60 hearers, and the Sunday school by 50 children and some adults. The people come regularly. The weekday school has 50 pupils." The missionary asks urgently for help in the school. He is convinced he could accomplish much more if he could visit the people more diligently. As it is he must be on his feet almost day and night and undermines his health. He thinks that, at least on a trial basis, a good student should be given him as a helper. The