# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1925_S5 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. people to the missionary and his message that we were convinced something more substantial in the line of getting a place of worship had to be done. The Forward Step. Up to this time, the early months of 1924, we had not had the courage to ask our local Federation officially to recognize our Colored Mission and do something for us. But now we believed God’s time had come. We first invited two members of the delegate body of our Federation to one of our purchase of five vacant lots on Hopkins Street and the erection thereon of a portable building which could be used for both church and school. But while this recommendation was under considera- tion, one of our trustees, in a later meeting, made the announcement that the city of Cincinnati was offering for sale one of its public bath-houses, situ- ated right in the heart of the district in which we were working. It was decided to investigate. The result was that the Federation resolved to place a bid for the building. Our Board bid $5,035. The Chapel in Cincinnati on the Day of Dedication. Thursday evening meetings. These men were deeply impressed, and encouraged us to lay our case before the Federation. ‘At the next meeting of the Federation, the missionary, accompanied by Dr. Beverly and Mr. Livingston, presented the matter. It was particularly the words of Dr. Beverly that impressed the meeting. Our pastors all spoke in support of the work, and before the meeting ad- journed, a resolution was unanimously adopted to do something. A committee was appointed to in- vestigate the possibility of buying or building in some suitable locality on the West Side. After a month of careful search and investigation the com- mittee decided to recommend to the Federation the city accepted our bid, and the building became our property. It is located on Cutter Street, a few doors south of Betts Street. Its dimensions are 23X90 feet, and its construction is of solid stone and concrete. Renovation work was now begun. The services of Architect Wm. Mayer were engaged, who without compensation undertook to put the building into proper shape for our purposes. With God’s help and the faithful cooperation of our Board of Trustees, in particular its chairman, Mr. Wm. EL. Hoerr, the work went on, and now, after six months, stands completed before our eyes. Mr. Mayer stated that the cost of renovation will not exceed. $3,500. '