# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1912_S29
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1912. 29

Half of the inhabitants consist of Negroes. The best, most intelligent Negroes side with us. Since the first Sunday in July 1911 the young Negro pastor Eugene R. Berger has been working at this station. The mission owns a chapel, which is used at the same time as a school. The building has a value of $1400.00. The building lot, 75×150 feet, is worth about $200.00. The services are well attended. The weekday school, which has been held by Missionary Berger since Teacher W. Schrieber's transfer to New Orleans, has about 80 children on the roll, the Sunday school 92. About 50 souls are under the missionary's care. Although work has already been carried on for nine years at Napoleonville, it has still not come to the founding of a congregation. This is chiefly due to the fact that almost everything is in the lodge, not only the men but also the women and children. The people will not let go of these lodges, since they think they urgently need such associations for their temporal welfare; and we on the other hand cannot recognize the lodges. Although we cannot show any outward successes so far, yet we know that God's Word is not preached in vain here either, that it will not return empty but will bring forth fruit, even if we do not perceive it. — In the Negro village of Bertrandville, three miles from Napoleonville, about 30 souls have so far been under Missionary Berger's care. He has preached there regularly and held Sunday school. The conditions here are the same as in Napoleonville.
c. Mansura, St. Paul. (Missionary: Negro pastor Chas. Peay.) Mansura, a large Creole village, lies about 92 miles northwest of Napoleonville and 153 miles from New Orleans. A little over two miles north of the village stands our church, beside it the parsonage. The church is worth $700.00, the parsonage with appurtenances $1000.00 and the two acres of land $100.00. Last autumn the church was considerably damaged by a heavy storm. The members have, however, put their house of worship back in repair provisionally. In the autumn, though, a more thorough repair will probably become necessary. The congregation counts 135 souls, 82 communicant members and 26 voting members. The weekday school is attended by 30 children, the Sunday school by 42. The school has unfortunately declined somewhat. This is because the large Catholic congregation in the village has now begun a school of its own for the Negroes, precisely in order to do harm to our mission. Our people have for the most part come to us from the Roman Church and rejoice in the freedom which they now have and enjoy. They come diligently to church and often go to Holy Communion. They distinguish themselves by a Christian walk of life and stand in good repute with their neighbors. In short, the Mansura congregation is a model congregation for our Negro congregations and also for many a white congregation. — Pastor Peay visited Alexandria, La., last year and stayed there three days.