# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1924_S57
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1924. 57

havior of the pupils, their attentiveness in class, the faithful and capable work of the professors — all made an exceedingly favorable impression on me. Pupils as well as teachers are all Lutheran. The girls all have the resolve to serve their church in the mission school on the rapidly expanding mission field in Alabama. This year the Commission bought a building site in the northwestern part of the city, which cost the sum of $4,722.50 and is already paid for. On it two simple but suitable frame buildings are to be erected this summer, which at today's high prices, however, will cost a good $20,000. The Reverend Synodical Conference [Synodalkonferenz] should now see to it that the necessary $20,000 flows soon into the mission treasury! Here a splendid opportunity offers itself to well-to-do Lutheran Christians to lay a great charitable gift on the altar of the mission.

Particulars.

1. Matter of Provision. According to the resolution of the convention two years ago, the matter of support for aged and disabled mission workers, as well as needy widows and orphans, is to be taken up and settled on the occasion of this convention.

2. A New Catechism. Experience has shown that the catechism used in our Negro Mission (Schwan) is too difficult for our people. The Commission therefore resolved last fall to publish a catechism that adheres strictly to Dr. Luther's Small Catechism, is as simple as possible, and can also be used in the instruction of adults. The new catechism is finished and will be introduced in all schools.

3. Lantern-Slide Lectures. In association with some other mission commissions our Commission founded a lecture bureau this summer, which has its seat in Chicago and will henceforth handle our various lantern-slide lectures.

4. Our Two Mission Papers — the "Missionstaube" [Mission Dove] and the Lutheran Pioneer [printed in English] — ought to have a wider circulation. Both unfortunately show a loss of readers. From July 1923 to July 1924 the number of subscribers to the Pioneer has fallen from 5,226 to 4,500 (decrease: 726) and the number of subscribers to the "Missionstaube" from 15,700 to 13,500 (decrease: 2,200). That the Pioneer shows a loss in spite of the English language in which it appears is due in part to the fact that the Colored Lutheran is now kept and read in the homes of our Negro Christians. The "Missionstaube" shares with many other German publications the same fate: loss of readers, because the number of German readers is declining. Moreover our Negro Mission has grown so much that news from it takes up almost the whole space available, and relatively little can be published from other missions at home and abroad. For these and other reasons the Mission Commission recommends to the Reverend Synodical Conference to consider seriously whether the paper should not be enlarged. Further information can be presented orally.

5. The Mission Commission. Since Dr. Georg Mezger was transferred temporarily last year to the seminary near Berlin, the Commission elected from its midst Prof. Theodor Gräbner as chairman in his place. Dr. Mezger, as chairman of the Negro Mission