The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1914, Page 77

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

The Lutheran Pioneer.

474

Important Resolutions of Synodical
Conference.

Our Negro Mission was the principal business
which occupied the time and attention of the
Synodical Conference at its recent convention at
Milwaukee. Notably two resolutions passed by the
venerable body are of vast importance to our mis-
sion. One pertains to the erection of chapels. The
Mission Board asked for an appropriation of
$10,000 for this purpose, and this amount was
generously granted. These chapels are needed in
cities where school and divine services are now
conducted in dance-halls, small, dilapidated cabins,
and in rooms of occupied dwellings. While the
work of the Savior even in those buildings is not
entirely in vain, for wherever the Lord records His

3d at Milwaukee, Wis., August 12—17, 1914.

name He will come and bless, still, under these
unfavorable circumstances, hampered as we are on
all sides, the mission cannot make good and rapid
progress. Some money,.sufficient to build at least
one chapel, has been contributed, but owing to a
deficit in the General Fund, the Treasurer has been
compelled to draw on the Chapel Fund to pay the
salaries of the workers.

A resolution of scarcely less importance to our
mission is the appropriation by Synodical Con-
ference of $3,000 for a Girls’ Dormitory at Greens-
boro, N. C. This dormitory, of course, is to serve
the. cause of Christ. Gifted Christian girls are to
be trained for teachers in our mission-schools.
Such teachers are greatly needed. It was shown
that neither our own colored institutions nor our
white seminaries can supply us with the necessary

laborers, particularly male teachers, and even if

white laborers were to be secured, as it was inti-
mated, there are sections in the South where, on
account of racial prejudices, they could not work
successfully. It was further shown that the present
force of teachers is inadequate, and that golden
opportunities to expand the kingdom of Christ are
lost. At present ten preaching-stations and con-
gregations ought to be supplied with schools. Our
schools are the advance guard paving the way for
the Gospel of Christ to Christless homes and hearts.
But only five female teachers are available. Be-
sides, vacancies caused by resignation, sickness, or
death occur every year. Hence reinforcement is
needed. But where is it to come from? The Syn-
odical Conference was convinced that more teachers
were needed, and that we must enlist the services
of girls educated at our own institutions, and

therefore voted an appropriation of $3,000 for the
erection of a dormitory, where the girls may find
a home during their attendance at school.

Those girls, however, who prove to lack the
necessary talents for teaching, or have no desire
to enter this work, are to receive instructions. in
cooking, housekeeping, plain sewing, etc., besides
taking the regular preparatory course. Being edu-
cated at our Lutheran institutions, where they are
rooted and grounded in God’s Word, they will be
able’ to render valuable services for Christ as active
and influential church-members.

The future progress of our Mission depends
largely upon the execution of these resolutions.: We
appeal to every reader of THE LUTHERAN PIONEER
to contribute an extra dollar or more for these pur-
poses. May God bless the givers and the gifts!

N. J. BAKKE.