# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1908_S43
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1908. 43

give and do nothing for the mission. Here is a little band of Negro Christians who not only impart all manner of good to him who instructs them, as far as they are able, but who themselves provide for the needs of their mission, who have given $100.00 for Immanuel College in Greensboro and who are working toward building a little church in Little Rock; indeed, one of our steadfast Lutheran women, Mrs. Ellen Bransford, has already handed Pastor Poppe in Little Rock $300.00 for this purpose. The same Christian woman, having no more relatives, has also bequeathed to our Negro Mission by will her entire, not insignificant estate. Finally it is said that Negroes pay little heed to Christian discipline and godly conduct. Here we have colored fellow believers who, to be sure, like us still have the old Adam about them, but by God's grace crucify him together with his lusts and pursue sanctification.

That is something great. That is a new proof of the efficacy and power of God's Word. It must lead us to praise his grace, and encourage us anew, indeed inspire us, for the Negro Mission. For that reason Little Rock is named first this time in the report on the Negro Mission. Pastor Poppe in Little Rock visits our Negro Christians there twice a month and takes care of them faithfully with great self-denial. He preaches to them in a private house, to which about 30 hearers come. With these he also holds catechism instruction regularly. The Sunday school is attended by 20 children. The number of communicants is 8. To these Pastor Poppe gives the testimony that they are as sincere Christians as he ever had among his communicants, and closes his report with the words: "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would also send forth a laborer, to help gather in the harvest of the Negro Mission in Little Rock." The pastoral conference of Arkansas also called upon the Commission to resume the mission in Little Rock.

II. Louisiana.

1. New Orleans. Here we have three flourishing congregations and Luther College. The congregations, in the order of their founding, are as follows:

Mount Zion. How small the beginnings of this mission were in the historic Sailors' Home! Now the congregation numbers 220 souls, 107 communicants and 18 voting members. The school, over which our old, faithful teachers Vix and Meibohm preside, numbers 190 pupils. Unfortunately Missionary Kretzschmar, who worked here with blessing, had to leave New Orleans on account of illness in the family, on the urgent advice of the physicians, and in the spring of 1907, with the Commission's consent, accepted a call to Nebraska. Since then Missionary Kramer has also served this station. He writes that the mission here has suffered from the repeated departure of missionaries; otherwise it could today be our most flourishing station. The often