Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1954, Page 139

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America, 1954 139

and to its ever-growing school of 300 children, and that the writer
take over the small congregation, Concordia. God has laid His
blessings upon the energetic and devoted work of Pastor Eller-
mann, so that he and we with him had the joy of seeing the largest
confirmation class in the history of the church received on Palm
Sunday: twenty-nine in number.

Our oldest teacher, Prof, Aaron Wiley, who had retired be-
cause of failing health, was called to his heavenly home on April 8,
1954, His funeral took place on Palm Sunday afternoon. The over-
whelming audience that filled the church to overflowing was proof
of the high esteem in which the departed brother was held not
only by the members of our churches, but by his many friends
and the entire community. With him the second generation of
mission workers is starting Homeward.

Lastly, nearly all of our congregations have taken another
step forward by raising the salaries of their much-underpaid
teachers without the usual appeal to the Missionary Board.

Under God our work is progressing. Brethren, unitedly stand
behind us in the future as in the past. Let no rift in the ranks
become the devil’s trick to hinder or harm this most blessed and,
oh, so necessary work of our Lutheran Negro missions, May God
in grace and mercy grant this our wish and fervent prayer.

Bethlehem, New Orleans, La.

You walk into a strange house. You are making a missionary
call. You tell the residents you are from Bethlehem Lutheran
Church — and you have struck a reminiscent chord. Immediately
you find yourself on common ground. The mission prospect re-
sponds: “Oh, yes, I’ve known Pastor Kramer for years. I went to
Bethlehem School, too, and all my children have gone there.”

The wording may change, but it is exceptional to make a mis-
sion call where someone has not had some contact over the years
(somewhere in the family) with Bethlehem Lutheran church of
school. As a little mustard seed, the branches from the church and
the school have reached far out into the community. Even now,
after thirty years, school children of the class of °20° or so are led
back into the Adult instruction class to become members,

: Sixty-six years the church and the school have stood on the

has been the leading and guiding influence.
At the time Pastor Kramer arrived in “historical old New
Orleans,” there were 65 communicant members, Today there are
257. The school then housed 65 regular pupils. Today there are /
| over 300. This number, too, might well be increased if facilities
. were available.

The Congregation: Viewing the congregation in the midst of
buying the church, school, and all adjacent property from the Mis-
sionary Board, it appears to be healthy, well balanced, and well i
blessed. A canvassing committee has been formed to meet the i

challenge of new missions in our area, where new housing projects |
are being inaugurated.

The Altar Guild has taken a healthy step forward upon being
organized within less than a year. Already the Guild has pur-
chased for the beauty of the Lord’s altar new altar cloths, pulpit