# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1908_S45
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1908. 45

are well attended, especially in the evening. Our young people on the whole remain loyal to the church and are always diligent in bringing others along. In Bethlehem a good foundation has been laid, on which one can continue to build. Our old members are Christians rich in knowledge and thorough Lutherans." This station numbers 207 souls, 71 communicants and 15 voting members. In the last two years $1024.12 was raised here. In spite of the changes of teachers and the building of a large free school nearby, things are going well with the school. Since September 1907 Teacher J. Bruns has been in charge of it. Mr. J. F. Odendahl assists him provisionally. The number of pupils is 119.

2. Mansura: St. Paul's Congregation. The state of this mission has remained fairly the same in the last two years. The people have had crop failures and are poor. But the congregation is an excellent one. Church attendance is outstanding. Almost all members come regularly to church. They are good, faithful Lutherans. The congregation numbers 85 souls, 53 communicants and 21 voting members. The school, kept by the missionary himself, numbered 25 children in the last year. Recently the former missionary, Pastor F. W. Wenzel, accepted a call to Wisconsin, and this mission is now also served by Missionary Ed. Schmidt in Napoleonville.

3. Napoleonville. Three years ago a member of St. Paul's Congregation in New Orleans, by the name of Joseph Nelson, moved to Napoleonville, La., a flourishing little town in a fertile region, about 80 miles west of New Orleans. Soon he won a number of Negroes for the plan of asking Pastor Lankenau to hold a Lutheran sermon for them. That took place in a well-attended service. Afterward the people wished to be served further, and in particular they desired a school for their children. Thereupon our pastors and professors in New Orleans preached here as often as possible. First Missionary Kretzschmar took over the direction of the new station; later, after his departure, it passed first to Prof. Müller and then to Missionary Kramer. A building was rented, and the Commission transferred Teacher Gehner from New Orleans to Napoleonville to bring a Lutheran school into being. After a short time this had 45 children. It soon became evident, however, that for the prospering of this mission a place of its own was necessary; therefore the Commission resolved to erect a building here as soon as possible, which could serve both as school and chapel. An appeal to the schoolchildren of the Synodical Conference was issued by Professor Müller, the funds began to flow, and soon construction could be begun. On the Sunday after Easter of this year the simple but suitable building was dedicated by Pastor Kramer and Prof. Müller. The cost