# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1912_S25
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1912. 25

II. Negro Mission.

Since the report of the Commission for the *Negermission* [mission among African Americans; the period's term "Negro Mission"], in accordance with the resolution of the year 1910, was this time available in print, the reading of it in public session was dispensed with. It was instead referred at once to a committee for report. The following is

1. The Report.

(From August 1910 to August 1912.)

On 1 January 1913 it will be fifty years since President Lincoln issued his well-known "Emancipation Proclamation." By this proclamation civil freedom was given to the Negroes of our country. A far better freedom, the glorious freedom of the children of God, the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference [*Synodalkonferenz*] of North America has sought to bring them in the last 34 years through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. To these efforts God the LORD has graciously set His seal. He has blessed our work among the poor Negroes. His divine traces of blessing on our mission field will again stand clearly before our eyes when we now let pass before our minds what has happened in our Negro Mission in the two years just past.

Mission Stations.

1. Arkansas.

Little Rock. Here in the year 1878 the Synodical Conference stationed its first resident missionary, founded the first Negro congregation, and built the first Lutheran Negro church. But in the year 1895 the missionary of that time was dismissed and somewhat later the station was given up. Since then the pastors of the white congregation in Little Rock have served the Negroes who remained faithful with Word and Sacrament. Although the congregation has already been vacant seventeen years, it still counts 32 souls (that is, persons who are under the pastoral care of the preacher, great and small) and 13 communicant members (that is, confirmed persons, young and old, who are entitled to take part in Holy Communion). The Sunday school has 19 pupils. Last year 6 persons were confirmed. The people attend the services of the white congregation, and in addition Pastor Poppe preaches to them every fourteen days in the afternoon in a private house. But he can hardly do the work any longer; for his own German-English congregation counts about a thousand souls, and besides he preaches regularly in the Convict Camp. Four years ago he already wrote: "Pray the LORD of the harvest that He also once send a laborer to help gather in the harvest of the Negro Mission in Little Rock." Our Negro Christians also ask again and again for a pastor of their own. They are certainly worth having their request finally granted; for they love God's Word and the Lutheran Church, lead a Christian life, and show themselves also otherwise