The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 156

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additional classrooms was readily granted by the
convention.

All told, the appropriations for new buildings
amounted to $140,000. The budget —running
expenses—for the next two years calls for an
expenditure of no less than $175,000, exclusive of
the contributions of our colored Christians. In
addition to this there is a debt in the current
expense fund of $25,000. Thus the total amount
necessary successfully to carry on the work in our
entire Colored Mission field for the next biennium
comes close to $350,000.

Our Missionary Papers.

Needless to state, the rather large proportions
of this amount, and above all the best method of
procedure toward securing it, took up especially
much of the committee’s time. The consensus of
opinion was, however, that the right kind of
propaganda was chiefly necessary to reach the goal
set. In this connection the two excellent creators
and carriers of missionary interest and zeal, the
Missionstaube and the LuTHERAN PIONEER, came
in for a lengthy discussion. It was pointed out
that despite the increased size and improved value
of these splendid mission-papers neither of them
had gained very many new subscribers during the
past years and that both of them had been
published at a loss. In order that both the Afis-
sionstaube and the PIONEER may more effectively
serve the cause of our missions, particularly all
pastors and teachers are urged to gain many new
subscribers for them. Toward this end it was
decided to send a copy of both papers to every
pastor and teacher in the Synodical Conference
gratis. The Conference hoped greatly to widen
the circle of interested readers. Repeatedly it was
emphasized on the floor of the convention that if,
above all, more pastors were sufficiently interested
in our cause, the list of subscribers would grow by
leaps and bounds. The only way to get subscribers
for our religious periodicals is to go out yourself
or send some one else and get them. We sincerely
hope for a large increase in Mtssionstaube and,
especially, PIONEER readers.

Missionary Zeal of Our Colored Brethren.

This rather lengthy report would, however, be
incomplete without a reference to one more out-

standing feature of this eventful gathering in

Lockport. It concerned the opening of a mission
in Africa. After mature deliberation the conven-
tion decided to keep this matter of African mis-

‘

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

sions in mind and to instruct the Board to gather
all possible information bearing on the project
and to report its findings to the next meeting of
the Synodical Conference. The kind reader will
naturally be inclined to ask, “Whatever gave rise
to the idea of beginning a mission in Africa?”
We reply, The earnest desire of our colored Chris-
tians to bring the Gospel as they learned to know
and believe it from our missionaries to their be-
nighted fellow-men in darkest Africa. And by
way of proving their interest in this proposed
undertaking, they have already contributed $2,500
toward the venture. Surely we all rather admire
such a commendable missionary spirit.

The following officers were elected to serve for
the next two years: President, Pastor C. Gause-
witz; Vice-President, Dr. L. Fuerbringer; Secre-
tary, Pastor H. M. Zorn; ‘Treasurer, Mr. Albert
Gruett. Trustees: Mr. H. Runge, Merrill, Wis.;
Pastor G. A. Gullixson, Chicago, Ill.; Pastor
J. Bradac, Whiting, Ind. Pastor John Halboth
and Dr. P. E. Kretzmann served as chaplains.

; Ep H. Scumipr.

Cleveland Colored Mission has Become
a Reality.

On September 5 the new colored mission was
opened in Cleveland. ‘The mission is under the
direct auspices of St. Peter’s Church, pastor Arthur
Katt, but has the good will of all our Cleve-
land congregations. The formal opening service
was held in the Assembly Hall of St. Peter’s, corner
E. 79th St. and Sherman Ave. During the service,
which began at 3 p. x1., Mr. Ernest Mueller, a student
of our Seminary at St. Louis, who is to be in charge
of the new mission during the next year, was
formally presented to the Negroes in attendance
by Rev. Paul Kleinhans, chairman of the Home
Mission Board of the Central District. The editor
of the Pioneer was granted the privilege of
speaking to the audience in attendance on the
topic, “The Lutheran Church and What It Stands :
For.” Student Twitty, of Immanuel College,
Greensboro, N. ©., spoke on the subject, “What
the Lutheran Church is Doing for the Negro.”
Mr. Twitty’s address made a very favorable im-
pression upon the colored and white people
present, and we are sure that his words went, far
towards favorably disposing his fellow-Negroes
present to our Church, as it led many of the white