# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1920_S26
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

26 Proceedings of the twenty-seventh convention

Negro children, but no church. So of course work in Fayetteville has been discontinued entirely.

Wilmington. Here our former missionary O. Richert labored hard for several years in church and school. A small group of 16 baptized members was gained. A great hindrance was the lack of suitable quarters. Church and school had to be held all those years in an old empty store. Then in wartime, besides, Missionary Richert was called away. After his successor had been there a few weeks, he could not even keep the old premises, which had been rented, for any length of time. In Wilmington there is a great housing shortage; Missionary Lash could find no other premises. Now the services had to be held in a private house. The mission school had to be given up. The appeal for charitable gifts for a building, published repeatedly in our two mission papers, has resulted in about $900 coming in. Since a building lot in a suitable part of the city would cost well over $3000, the Commission, with a heavy heart, resolved to discontinue the work in Wilmington and to advise the few to move to places where we have congregations.

Conover. The small congregation has almost completely died out. Only two old members are still alive. Pastor Dähnke serves them now and again. The church property was sold last autumn for $425. We may, however, still use it freely for purposes of worship.

Monroe. Here we own a nice chapel. But since 1910 no missionary of its own could be stationed at Monroe. The exodus was strong. Last winter it seemed as if we should have to abandon Monroe. But then the prospects improved somewhat again; and so the property has not been sold.

Southern Pines. Here there are only about 300 Negroes, and for these 4 churches! No growth is to be hoped for. The little congregation of 52 baptized members is served from Greensboro (about 100 miles).

Albemarle. In this city church and school have been held since 1911 in a wretched place. The number of baptized members has risen in the four years under report from 1 to 11. Missionary Foard thinks that Albemarle is a hopeful place. He therefore requests a modest chapel. The request is strongly supported by Teacher Dinkins.

Winston-Salem is now the largest city in the state of North Carolina. Many Negroes live there. Since the mission work there was resumed in 1913, the services have been held in a private house. A sewing machine serves as pulpit, a bed and a trunk standing in the room as seats.