# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1926_S13
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1926. 13

An old member, Moses Russell, declared: "I am proud of my
church; for I know God's Word is preached here."

"For years I have attended various churches; now I am
a Lutheran. And this is the best church I have ever belonged to."
So spoke a third.

Yet another said: "I have belonged to the
Lutheran church for over fourteen years, and I know the doctrine is right. The congregational
work is going forward finely, and we live together in love and harmony
in the service of the LORD."

A visitor expressed himself thus: "I do not belong to this con-
gregation, but I come to church here very often, because I get benefit here
for my soul. The more often I come, the more I love this
church. All my children, with only one exception, are members of
this congregation, and I am seriously thinking of joining it
as a member myself. I like it here, because the Word of God
is so clearly expounded here."

Some women also gave their opinion. Mrs. Zula
Parks said: "I have belonged to this congregation since I was a little
girl. I love my church, because here we have God's Word
pure and unadulterated. We also try to keep the Word that is preached to us
and to live by it."

"We have the Word of God pure," said another. "And
our children are so nicely taught in it in the school! For
this sweet, pure Gospel of Christ, our Saviour, we thank
God and our Mission Board. That we esteem it highly
we show by coming and hearing it."

Yes, these coloured Christians really hold their Lutheran church
dear and precious. Let us learn from them!

19. St. John's, Salisbury. (Founded in August 1895.
Missionary: Carrington March, since June 1923.) At this hard
post the number of souls has risen again by a small amount: from 37
to 39. The fact that 35 persons on average attend the Sunday
service gives some ground for hope of better
times. The church was painted and repaired last year
and looks good again. The men of the congregation have erected a nice
"Fenz" [fence; sic, as printed] in front of the church.

20. Bethel, Conover. (Founded 1895. Missionary: C. March,
since January 1924.) 7 souls, 2 communicant members, 13 pupils
in the Sunday school. The Sunday service is attended on average by
28 persons, the weekday evening service by 22.

21. Mount Olive, Catawba. (Country congregation. Founded
1902. Missionary: C. March, since January 1924.) Souls: 17 (increase:
2). This congregation, too, like the congregation at Conover,
was always small and will probably remain so. In April of last year
it lost its oldest and most faithful member: the good, godly Sophronia
Hull. She was a Lutheran all her life, although she was born as early as the year
1845. Sophronia was born a slave in the midst of a
Lutheran family named Smith near Conover and soon after
her birth was baptized in the white Lutheran St. John's Church by Rev. Adam
Smith. When she was about fifteen years old she was
confirmed in St. John's Church with some other Negro children by Rev. Polykarp Henkel. She knew the doctrines of her church. When
one entered her house, one saw at once on the small table in the front
room the Book of Concord, which contains the confessions of the Lutheran church