# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1906_S59
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1906. 59

especially as regards growth in knowledge. Since the missionary has devoted almost his whole time and strength to the school, there could not be much talk of mission work among adults. That is a difficulty with which we have to contend under the prevailing shortage of workers. So it has come about that only 15 souls could be added. Yet especially in the most recent time we have a small number of visitors (strangers) who, to all appearance, will soon join as members.

That the congregation is prospering can be recognized from many things. Brotherly admonition is diligently practiced. The people who attach themselves to us show, the longer the more, a sense for the kingdom of God. Their love for the school is great. Unfortunately a new large public school [printed in English] has been built right into our district, so near and so in the heart of our district as perhaps in the case of no other mission school. We shall certainly have to reckon with it.

Church attendance is good on the whole, so that various pastors who have preached here have declared that Bethlehem has excellent church attendance. The relationship between the workers at the station and the congregation is the best imaginable.

Three mission workers have already come out of Bethlehem, namely Pastor John McDavid in North Carolina, Teacher N. Seeberry at St. Paul's Station in New Orleans, and Aaron Wiley, who took his examination at the end of June. In addition two from this station are attending the College to become teachers.

Besides the regular contribution of $25.00 the congregation has sent for outside purposes — chapel building, mission, College, needy Lutherans in California, etc. — $80.18 to the respective treasurers, not counting the $20.90 raised at the Conference. The poor within the congregation the latter has cared for with love and raised $135.44 for that purpose. A comparison with the receipts of the preceding biennium shows that every fund received considerably larger contributions this time.

Services were held on Sunday morning and evening, and besides, from 1 September to 30 May, also on Thursday evening.

In the lower class of the school Mr. F. J. Odendahl worked with all faithfulness and good skill. At the end of June Teacher Wolf resigned his office and turned to a secular calling. The upper class was in the charge of the missionary. In Teacher Wolf's place Candidate J. Gehner has been called and has accepted the call. The school numbered 154 children.

II. Mansura. (Pastor F. W. Wenzel.) Missionary Wenzel, who has worked at this station only 1¼ years, is the eighth pastor who in a period of eight years has labored there for a longer or shorter time. The missionary writes: "That with frequent change of preachers much of the confidence in our mission has been lost and