# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1926_S12
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

12 Proceedings of the thirtieth convention

16. Mount Calvary, Mount Pleasant. (Founded 1893.
Missionary: Frank D. Alston, since July 1923. He lives in Charlotte.)
We own a church and parsonage here. Unfortunately they stand behind a
wood that separates them from the little town. The congregation once had
over a hundred members; but many have moved away, and only 42
are left. Yet those who moved away have not been lost to the church;
they have joined our congregations in other places.

17. St. Peter's, Drys Schoolhouse. (Country congregation. Founded
1897. Missionary: F. D. Alston, since July 1923.) Souls: 30
(decrease: 4). Communicant members: 25 (decrease: 1).
Missionary Alston says in his report on this congregation: "It is faithful.
The Sunday before last it rained in torrents from 10 to 12 o'clock. When
I turned off the real highway, my car got stuck. I
got out and walked about a mile to the house of a member of the congregation,
fetched his horse and pulled the car out of the ditch. At last
I arrived at the church soaked and an hour and a half late. The
faithful little flock had lit a fire and was waiting for me.
Despite the feeling of discomfort I gave them a sermon before
hurrying on to the next mission station." "Here one can count only on growth
from within. But it may be said to the praise of the members that
they are faithful, willing Lutherans. Whether the pastor is there or
not, they come together every Sunday in their house of worship, hold
their Sunday school and sing hymns. You may count on it that all
who do not move away will live and die in the Lutheran church."

18. Mount Calvary, Kannapolis. (Country congregation; a mile and a half
from the town. Founded on 6 July 1902 by the late Superintendent J. P. Smith.
Missionary: F. D. Alston, since July 1919.) Of all the congregations in North Carolina this one grows
the fastest. The number of souls has risen in the past two years under report
from 107 to 150. Four years ago the number of
souls was only 49. That is thus a growth of 206 percent. Let us
hear what the missionary says about this flourishing congregation: "The
prospects are very encouraging. Attendance at the services is fine;
and we have here a spirit of cooperation that must bear fruit.
Unfortunately not as much work can be done here as should be done,
since I lack time. I always have the feeling that the hours I spend at my other two stations
should be spent here. If this could be done,
the results would be inspiring. I expect, however, to be able soon to report the admission
of several members. On almost any Sunday, when I look at the addition made three years ago (30×36 feet),
I wonder why I did not make it larger,
since it is too often overcrowded. We are now in the process of extending the platform
and of procuring a carpet for the chapel. The trees
that our men planted last year are growing nicely. The
men now want to plant a hedge."

When the writer of this visited the congregation officially last year in March,
several members expressed their opinion of their church in a public meeting.
Some of these remarks may follow here.

An elder said: "I love the Lutheran church, for here
we have God's Word pure and clear."