The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Sheet 158

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

BS EEE

which will appear in print in due time, to the
earnest study of our readers.

Another outstanding feature of the Lockport
meeting, one that could hardly be duplicated any-
where, was the warm hospitality granted the mem-
bers by the local and surrounding congregations.
We dare say, even the most laudatory after-dinner
speeches, delivered by very eloquent orators,
hardly did justice to the excellency of the meals
served, not to speak of many other manifestations
of cordiality and good will experienced on all sides.

Convention Services.

The timely convention sermon, delivered by the
Ven. President of the Wisconsin Synod, the Rev.
G. E. Bergemann of Fond du Lac, Wis., at the
opening service, will, by God’s grace, contribute its
happy share toward cementing together more
closely the various church-bodies included in the
Synodical Conference. President Bergemann chose
for his text Is. 43,1, and he dwelt on the theme,
“The Covenant God Speaking to His People,” en-
couraging them for the work they had to do, the
business they are to conduct, and the mission they
are to accomplish.

Other divine services I wish to mention par-
ticularly were the large rally service on Sunday
afternoon in a down-town theater, in which
Dr. P. E. Kretzmann, of St. Louis, and Pastor
Paul Horn, of Morgan, Minn., addressed an audi-
encé numbering over two thousand people, the
closing service on Monday evening, in which Pastor
Carl Schmidt, of Chicago, delivered the con-
fessional address and Pastor H. Meyer the sermon,
and the regular service on Sunday morning, with
one of our colored brethren, the Rev. Fred Foard,
in the pulpit. On Friday evening Pastor C. F.
Drewes, of St.Louis, gave an illustrated lecture.

Another unique feature of this convention was

the introduction of English devotional exercises in.

the afternoon’ sessions. At least fifty per cent. of
the discussions on the floor of the convention, as
well as in committee meetings, were conducted in
the language of our country.

Report of Board for Negro Missions.

Finally, the very comprehensive report, sub-
mitted to the Conference by the Field Secretary of
our Colored Missions, the Rev. C. F. Drewes, which
covered the past two years, may also, chiefly be-
cause of its joy-giving contents, be classified as
something exceptionally good and gratifying. - This
interesting document served as the basis of the

‘ ‘

greater part of the afternoon discussions. The
progress made during the past two years, according
to this report, caused general rejoicing among all
present, and the recommendation of the Committee
on Resolutions to give a rising vote of thanks, first
to God, who had graciously vouchsafed His bless-
ings, and then to the faithful workers, who had
toiled and labored to bring in the harvest, was
most cordially and unanimously adopted.

Quite naturally the convention devoted much of
its time and attention to the two institutions of
higher learning in the Mission, Immanuel Lu-
theran College at Greensboro, N.C., and Luther
College at Selma, Ala. As xegards Immanuel
College, we will recall that time and again during
the past twelve years or more the needs of this
institution, especially the lack of a proper dor-
mitory for the female students, were presented to
the sessions of the Synodical Conference. Indeed,
in 1914 a resolution was passed to erect a suitable
girls’ dormitory at Greensboro. This resolution,
however, for patent reasons—lack of funds —
could never be carried out, and thus matters went
from bad to worse. Realizing at last at this time
that something had to be done, that is, that the
Synodical Conference would either have to discon-
tinue the institution entirely or provide proper
accommodations for the students, the convention,
after long and thorough deliberation, decided, first,
to continue the institution in its present status,
and secondly, to add, by way of appropriation, the
sum of $35,000 to the $15,000 already collected.
for the purpose and begin building operations at
once. Furthermore, it was resolved to request
the respective Boards of Directors of synods affili-
ated with the Synodical Conference for permission
to hold a special collection before the end of this
year in order that the amount appropriated may
be speedily raised. May God graciously grant
success to this venture!

While Immanuel College serves the Church by
preparing both pastors and teachers for their
respective profession, Luther College is a Normal
school only. It was most gratifying to learn that
all the 45 students enrolled at Selma were Lu-
theran, and without a doubt all of them aim to
become teachers in our mission-schools upon
graduation. Luther College sent forth its first
four laborers into the harvest this past spring. In
order better to accommodate the steadily increasing
number of attendants at this young and flourish-
ing institution, an appropriation of $6,000 for