# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1916_S87
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1916. 87

own pastor and no chapel!" A few have let themselves be lured away; others have been called away by death; and yet after 21 years we still have 15 souls who want to be and remain Lutheran. Among the deceased especially Ellen Bransford and Leaborn Jones are to be named. The former died on November 21, 1914, and left by will her whole property, worth about $6000, to our Negro Mission. Leaborn Jones, one of the four founders of the congregation, followed her about three months later. She too left her whole property, about $1600, to the Lutheran Church, namely one half to the white congregation in Little Rock and the other half to the Negro Mission there. — That brings us to a new section.

4. Church Contributions of Our Negro Christians.

Our Negro congregations raised in the year 1915 the sum of $5528 for the support of the Lord's work among themselves. Of this, to be sure, about $1600 was school fees, which come mostly from outside children. The average contribution was therefore about $3.37 for each confirmed member. Some, of course, give considerably more. A missionary writes: "A man in our congregation, who lives from hand to mouth, contributed $52 last year; another young man, who likewise owns nothing but his healthy, strong body, gave $31, another man together with his wife $41, a widow $23, an old grandmother, who must also provide for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, $16.80."

Some congregations have in the last years doubled or more than doubled their monthly contributions to the mission treasury. That is gratifying. But in general it could and should be still better. This was told the congregations also at the visitation in May, according to circumstances. We showed them at some length that and why they should do more for the maintenance and extension of the kingdom of Christ. They have also promised improvement. Now it must be seen to that they properly keep the promise given.

5. Our Mission Schools.

The Christian weekday school was and is one of our chief mission means. In the year 1915/16 school was held at 31 places by 14 male teachers, 17 pastors who teach school, 12 women teachers and 1 student. The number of pupils at the end of December 1915 came to 2262.

At Salisbury, N. C., our new two-story school could be dedicated on September 13, 1914. The cost of the building came to $826; of this the congregation raised $226. At 10 places