# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1926_S19
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1926. 19

a small rented board shack. As already mentioned,
the congregations in Alabama have already collected $700 for a church and
school in Camden.

41. Hope, Kings Landing, Dallas Co. (Country congregation.
Founded 17 January 1924. Missionary: Walter F. Carlson, since
November 1925.) Missionary Carlson serves four congregations in three
different counties and has much travelling to do. But God blesses his
hard and faithful work. The hope that the Hope congregation would
grow nicely has been fulfilled. The number of souls has risen, namely, from 33
to 89. The other congregations in Alabama have given this
young congregation a church that cost more than $1,000.
This is the first time in our mission that a church was built without
the help of the Synodical Conference (*Synodalkonferenz*). — Superintendent Schmidt
tells of an experience that shows just how the coloured preachers in the
Black Belt deceive the poor, ignorant people. "Some
years ago," he reports, "when a "revival" was going on and the
preachers could not move anyone to join the church, the
preacher devised the following plan: The two elders had to take up a
position in the tower. Before the great assembly, which filled the house,
the preacher then prayed thus: 'Lord, that the people might know that
Thou wilt have them join the church, ring the bell!' [Printed in English.] ('LORD, so that
the people may know that it is thy will that they join the church,
ring the bell!') The elders in the tower gave the bell a
stroke. The crowd in the church trembled. This was repeated
three times, and a great crowd of frightened Negroes streamed forward and
joined the church, convinced that the LORD had struck
the bell."

42. Bethel, Rockwest, Wilcox Co. (Country congregation. Founded
25 September 1924. Missionary: W. F. Carlson, since November
1925.) It was as a result of the invitation of the owner of a large
plantation that the work was begun here in the winter of the year
1924. Superintendent Schmidt followed the invitation. Up to now
32 communicant members and 73 souls have been won. An
unnamed friend of the mission in the far West has given $1,000 for a
building. A building site has been bought, and the chapel is to be
erected this summer. Superintendent Schmidt says in
his report: "When one thinks of Rockwest and of other places in
Alabama where hundreds of souls die without the saving
knowledge of Christ, one must pray fervently:

"O Jesus Christ, true light,
Enlighten those who know thee not,
And bring them to thy fold,
That their souls too may be saved."

43. Mount Carmel, Midway, Wilcox Co. (Country congregation.
Founded 1916. Missionary: W. F. Carlson, since March 1926.) Voting
members: 8. Communicant members: 30. Souls: 70 (increase:
18). Superintendent Schmidt says in his report: "Ruth Chambers
teaches 39 children in the school. The success of the work in
the school is nicely illustrated by the following story: The writer
drove one evening very late with Director Drewes to the cabin
of a member. As we approached the lonely dwelling on the bank of the
Alabama, some dogs barked loudly and furiously. A little
girl had stayed at home with the young baby. When our
Director asked her: 'Marie, are you not afraid to be alone here?'
she answered: 'No, sir.' Of our car Director