The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1922, Page 83

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

83

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Resolutions Concerning Our Negro
Missions,

Adopted at the Convention of the Synodical Con-
ference, August 16—21, 1922.

1. The Synodical Conference, with gratitude
toward the Lord, expresses its hearty appreciation
of the fact that our Colored brethren are earnestly
trying to increase their contributions to carry on the
work that is being done among them, and looks
forward with joyful anticipation to the time when
our Colored congregations will have become self-
supporting.

2. As to the question whether our Colored mis-
sionaries should become members of the synodical
Districts now existing in the Synodical Conference,
it was the opinion of the Conference that these
workers be advised not to attach themselves to such
Districts for the present, but that they be satisfied
with the conferences now existing among them,
since these are being attended also by lay delegates,
and are therefore to all intents and purposes Dis-
trict synods. Especially is such the case with the
General Conference, recently founded, and which
the Synodical Conference earnestly wishes to see
continued.

3. Proper notice was taken of the death of that
veteran missionary, Pastor Nils Jules Bakke, and it
was resolved that the following data be published in
the report of the convention: Pastor N. J. Bakke
was born at Drontheim, Norway, on September 8,
1852. In his seventeenth year he came to America
with his parents and soon after entered Luther Col-
lege, Decorah, Iowa. He received his theological
training at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.,
where he graduated in 1880. In November of that
same year he accepted a call into the Negro Mission
and was stationed in New Orleans. In the fall of
1891 he went to North Carolina and there founded
the first stations on that extensive field. In 1903
he became director of the new Immanuel Lutheran
College, now at Greensboro, N.C. When it was
found necessary to create the new office of Director
of Missions, in 1911, Pastor Bakke was called to
that responsible position. When the Lord called us
to Alabama, in 1916, Pastor Bakke was chosen
superintendent of that promising and important
field. Increasing age induced the Synodical Con-
ference to relieve him of the arduous duties of this
trying position in 1920 and to give him the more
pleasant office of a Publicity Secretary. But after
only nine months’ service in this capacity the Lord

called him out of the Church Militant to the Church
Triumphant. He was called to his eternal reward
on May 8, 1921, at the age of 68 years and 8 months.
For more than forty years Pastor Bakke served the

‘Lord as a worker among the Negroes of our country.

His widow, two sons, and a daughter survive him.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord!”

4. Concerning the support of superannuated
white mission-workers and such as are no longer fit
for service, as also the support of the families of
deceased laborers, the Synodical Conference was of
the opinion that it would be best to leave this matter
in the hands of the Mission Board for the next two
years, where it has been in the past. Conference
appointed a committee of three to act with the
Board in this matter in an advisory capacity.

5. Conference granted Treasurer Schuettner the
privilege of addressing the convention at some
length on the financial needs of the Board to carry
on the work of Negro Missions successfully and
efficiently. The floor was likewise given to Presi-
dent J. P. Smith of Immanuel Lutheran College,
Superintendent Schmidt and Pastor Peay of Ala-
bama, and Visitor Kramer of New Orleans.

6. Conference expressed its disappointment over
the fact that the girls’ dormitory, which has been
a crying need at Greensboro for years, had not yet
been erected. ‘The future of Immanuel Lutheran
College is in a méasure dependent upon the erection
of this building, and Conference resolved that all
our congregations be urged to help collect the funds
necessary to supply this crying need.

Y. Conference convinced itself of the need of
a normal high school in Alabama to train teachers
for the Alabama field. It was resolved that such
a school be opened without further delay.

8. A hearty vote of thanks was given the Ameri-
can Luther League for fitting out the Immanuel
College laboratory at a cost of $850.

9. It was resolved that in the future the vener-
able Synod of Wisconsin be represented on the
Board for Colored Missions by two members, who
are to have the same powers as have the others.

10. Conference resolved that all congregations
be urged to participate in the lifting of the Jubilee
Collection, so that the Board be able to carry out —
the extensive building program as planned. Con-
ference convinced itself that the building program
as outlined was limited to the barest necessities, and
deliberated for some length of time upon what could
be done to arouse all pastors and congregations to