# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1910_S44
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

44 Proceedings of the twenty-third convention

e. The mission congregations ought to be educated and encouraged, in the right way and in the
right spirit, to contribute more diligently and regularly toward the maintenance
of the ministry in their midst and for the needs of the Mission.
That can in many cases be done better by a mission director than by the
missionary, who among the people easily comes under the suspicion that he
is only after the money, as unfortunately is only too often the case with the
common run of Negro pastors.

f. The mission director could also quicken and raise interest in the Negro
Mission in our white congregations, partly by
representing this Mission at synodical conventions and conferences, partly through lectures and sermons in the individual
congregations, through correspondence and through reports in the "Missionstaube" [Mission Dove].

g. Finally the expansion of the Mission into new
territories, after thorough deliberation with our missionaries or as a result
of exploration in the Negro centers of the South, could be pursued more energetically. To this we shall in future likewise have to direct our
attention, so that the emissaries given us through our institutions
may be put to work and ever more Moors may be born to the Lord. We have in fact only begun the mission
among the great mass of the Negroes of our country.

By the appointment of a mission director the mission treasury would incur an additional expense of at least $2000.00. Yet
this additional expense would, in our conviction, not only be fully
justified, but it may also be expected that it will, as a result of the
activity of the mission director in the interest of the Mission, be more than
covered. The Reverend Synodical Conference is asked to subject this matter
to a thorough deliberation.

10. The number of subscribers to the "Missionstaube" has in the last
two years increased by about 1000 (it is now 23,800),
that of the Lutheran Pioneer by 500 (now 5500). When one considers
that the "Missionstaube" 31 years ago already had 13,000 subscribers
(Proceedings 1879, p. 37), and the Synodical Conference since then has experienced a
wonderful growth, the small circulation
of the "Missionstaube" is strange. Without doubt our mission
treasury would have larger receipts if our mission paper were read more.
The Lutheran Pioneer too ought to have a wider circle of readers, especially since in our congregations the English language is becoming ever more
established. Prof. Bischoff has again rendered the Mission thankworthy services by editing this
paper. The Commission therefore asks the esteemed representatives of the Synodical Conference
to take to heart the circulation of our two mission papers.

11. The faithful friend of our Negro Mission, "Mr. Unknown" [Herr Unbekannt],
has also in the last two years paid our treasurer his visit
and each time handed him $500.00 for the Negro Mission.