# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1902_S61
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America. 1902. 61

(p. 132.) Further he writes of "a heathenish religion which is led by preachers who are as ignorant as their hearers, and whose scandalous godlessness mocks all the precepts of the Ten Commandments." (p. 151.) On this our missionaries write: "We missionaries know, as a result of years of contact with colored preachers, that what is said here is unfortunately only too true." ("Miſſions⸗Taube" [Mission Dove], June 1902, p. 45.)

That the poor Negroes are not served by such people every Lutheran will concede who has even a faint notion of the ignorance, the superstition and the dissolute life of these people.

With our Negro Mission, however, thank God, matters stand quite differently. We are certain that our workers in the Negro Mission, our preachers and teachers, proclaim and teach the word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and this certainty can and must give us joy and readiness to carry on the work of the Negro Mission ever more zealously and willingly. Nothing is lovelier, more glorious and more powerful than God's Word. A mission, however, which proclaims this word that proceeds out of the mouth of God certainly carries on a holy and blessed work. Wherever it sets its foot, there it sets up God's teaching chair. Where this word is proclaimed, there the light is set upon the candlestick, which God has given to enlighten the peoples and lead them to heaven. Where this word is, there shines the sun of glory, there flow the springs of all salvation, of all blessing.

This word that proceeds out of the mouth of God is the mission means of the Honorable Synodical Conference. This word has now been proclaimed for 25 years by the workers in our Negro Mission, and, praise God, not without success.

Should we have to fear that the word preached among the Negroes accomplishes nothing after all, then the joy and readiness to carry on the work of the Negro Mission further might well leave us. To be sure, it often looks quite discouraging here. The Lutheran doctrine does not make its way quickly. Our missionaries have to contend with great difficulties. The Negroes are not seldom sunk deep in spiritual respects. They have not learned the pure doctrine. True Lutheranism is an unknown thing to them. The doctrine preached to them by our missionaries runs against their reason and against their so-called faith. It is new and strange to them. And if now, little by little, an orderly congregational life, discipline and order are to be introduced among them, there are difficulties upon difficulties.

The hellish spirit of lies is not lacking either (he is opposed to the truth), and the so-called enthusiasts, as well as the deniers of God and unbelievers, do their part too to harm the pure doctrine. So our missionaries sow with tears, and of the harvest with joy there is often long, long nothing to be seen.