# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1931_S37
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

36

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

A small group indeed; but what an ideal setting
for round-table discussion, for airing one’s views,
and for seeking advice in solving difficult situations
obtaining at “home”! With what weapons of de-
fense and offense the brethren are able to return to
their respective fields to cope with the problems
confronting them there!

The two days’ program was “full” to the utter-
most. Two essays were read and discussed. In his
own characteristic fashion Brother Carter pictured

Gee IMMANUEL C
Ba) UTHERAN

résumé of the work of the Lutheran Church. “If
there is to be a God-pleasing growth (religious)
among my people,” Pastor Carter concluded, “the
Lutheran Church must foster it. If growth does
not issue forth, it will be because the Lutheran
Church has defaulted with reference to her pos-
sibilities and obligations in this matter.”

Brother Mueller of Cleveland, O., rendered the
conference a real service in his short, though very
practical, paper on “Russellism,” in which he gave

Cincinnati Chapel.

“The Religious Growth of the Negro in America.”
It is hardly possible to do justice to.so wide a sub-
ject in one short paper, but our brother from Chi-
cago was equal to the task. Briefly dwelling upon
the background of the Negro up to his’ arrival in
America, the essayist pictured his rapid adjustment
to the new religious concepts which confronted him
on this continent; described the paradoxes that sur-
rounded him on all sides; made mention of the
plantation preachers and the secret meetings out of
_ which the Negro spirituals developed; went on to
show the activities of the sectarian church-bodies
“among his people; and wound up with a brief

the brethren innumerable hints on how to cope with
this non-Christian, Bible-quoting, reason-exalting, '
and literature-disseminating sect.

On the first night of the convention the brethren
of-the conference met with the local congregation
for the customary “open session.” Pastor Schulze
led the discussion on the topic “The Peace of God.”
After each paragraph the speaker paused, inviting
discussion, and the response both on the part of the
pastors and the laity was gratifying.

The second night again found us in the house
of the Lord, this time for a joint service at which
Holy Communion was celebrated. Brother Pflug of