# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1930_S50
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

50 Proceedings of the thirty-second convention

Our Lutheran Negroes Often Go to the Lord's Table.

Here we must again make a comparison. In the synods belonging to the
Synodical Conference (*Synodalkonferenz*), confirmed members go to Holy
Communion on average twice a year. How is it, by contrast, in our colored
Lutheran church? It must be said in advance that many of our colored
members are often not at home when Holy Communion is celebrated. They are far
away looking for work. That tends to reduce the number of communicants.
Second, it must be considered that the forebears of our Lutheran Negro
Christians were sectarians or people entirely without a church. There are only
a few families whose members are Lutherans in the third generation.
Nevertheless attendance at Communion is better than among us whites. Last year
a total of 10,518 guests came to the Lord's Table. That is, each confirmed
member went to Holy Communion on average three times a year. Going to
Communion is, so to speak, a thermometer of the spiritual life in a
congregation. By this standard a fine life of the Spirit prevails in our
*Negermission* [mission among African Americans; the period's term "Negro
Mission"]. Thanks be to God for it!

The Contributions of Our Negro Christians.

It should be noted here first, again: the contributions listed in the report of
the treasurer of our mission do not indicate all the gifts that are raised in
our mission. In addition there are thousands of dollars that our Negro
Christians raise for repairs, light, fuel, support of poor members, and so on.

Our colored Christians are, of course, not wealthy farmers, not prosperous
businessmen, not workers with large earnings. Unemployment is greater among
the Negroes than among the whites. Many a position that a Negro formerly held
is now filled by a white man. Nevertheless the income in our congregations
increased last year. It amounted in 1929 to exactly $31,063.18. That is
surprising. That our colored Christians, through the working of the Holy
Spirit, continually increase in the grace of giving is clearly evident from the
statistics we keep. In 1919 the income in the congregations was $12,591; ten
years later it was $31,063. That means an increase of $18,472. Truly, a fine
progress!

As to contributions, it is just as in our white congregations: some give
little, others give much. Missionary Kramer of the Bethlehem congregation in
New Orleans reports: "Among our members is a woman who contributed $41.60 last
year. The next highest was another older woman, who does the most to support
her mother and has no other income than what she earns at the washtub, and yet
gave $29.15. A young man contributed $29.75. One of our women teachers pledged
the salary of a whole month as her contribution toward paving the street by the
church."

So we see how, despite many weaknesses and failings in our congregations, they
nevertheless make fine, most gratifying progress in sanctification and in good
works. Thus our black Lutherans also enjoy the esteem and respect of their
white as well as black fellow citizens. This blessing that the Lord lays upon
the mission work, however, is to fill us with fresh courage, as the holy
Apostle says: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, and
abounding always in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor
is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58)