# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1910_S30
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

30 Proceedings of the twenty-third convention

b. Mansura. St. Paul's congregation. (Missionary: Negro
pastor Charles Peay.) After Missionary Wenzel's departure
this congregation was vacant for over two years. Yet it was faithfully served by
Pastor Ed. Schmidt of Napoleonville. School and confirmation
instruction were conducted by seminarians from Luther College, in the first
year Calvin Thompson and in the last year Eugene Berger, both
children of the congregation. This small congregation is a true mother of students,
for no fewer than five young men have already entered
Luther College from here, and one intends this autumn still to [become a] pastor [as well; text as printed: "noch mit und Paſtor werden"].
All have so far proved to be diligent and pious,
though only moderately gifted pupils. After long waiting
the prayer of these people for a pastor has been heard.
Pastor Charles Peay, formerly at Monroe, N. C., was transferred here and
on 26 June was installed by Pastor Ed. Schmidt. The congregation numbers
72 souls, 44 communicants and 19 voting members, and its school
50 children. Pastor Schmidt's work here has been a very blessed one.
The Mission owns a chapel and a parsonage.

c. Napoleonville. (Missionary: Pastor Ed. Schmidt.) Here
the missionary, since taking up his office two years ago, has worked with much diligence
and true faithfulness. It is a seed sown in hope. The
formation of a congregation has so far not been possible, since
lodge membership flourishes here among the Negroes. Yet the people attend
the services in numbers, and many have received instruction from the missionary. There is a flourishing school with 100 children. Since
the autumn of 1907 Teacher F. Eberhard had been in charge of it, and Pastor Ed.
Schmidt helped out. Now Teacher Eberhard, with the consent of the
Commission, has accepted a call to Nebraska, and Candidate
W. Schrieber from the seminary at Addison, who has accepted our call there,
will take his place in the autumn. In Napoleonville
41 souls are under the missionary's care. Besides the
school with 100 children there is also a Sunday school with 35
pupils. — Since January the missionary has been preaching at Bertrandville
and also holds a Sunday school there with 50 children. Recently
he has also begun a preaching place at Cottage Point, four miles away.
So our mission is spreading there
gratifyingly. At Napoleonville we have a chapel that also serves
as a school.

4. Mississippi.

Unexpectedly a door has opened to our Negro Mission in the State of Mississippi.
In the year 1908 a number of our colored
Lutherans from Mansura, La., moved to Merigold, Miss., 348 miles
north of New Orleans. They applied to our missionaries
for service, and in consequence Pastor Kramer of New Orleans
in May of last year paid a visit there. He preached to 11
hearers and celebrated the Holy Communion with three members from Mansura.
The people asked for further service and especially for