The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 23

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

23

it in opening correspondence with another a week
later: “The conference is past, but I’m sure it is
not forgotten. My thoughts still linger in Cleve-
land, where that splendid fellowship was enjoyed
with the brethren of the Northern Conference.”
And these words echo the sentiments of every one
who was privileged to attend these sessions. Not
only was a closer bond of Christian fellowship es-
tablished, but every member of the conference left
Cleveland the better equipped to meet the numerous
problems confronting him in his difficult work, and
all received new inspiration, new incentives to be
about the Master’s business. Jeremiah’s excuse,
“T cannot speak, for I am a child,” was overruled,
and young and old took part in every discussion.

Cleveland is a hotbed of Russellism, and in his
essay on this subject the Rev. Ernest Mueller con-
clusively proved that, while all “Bible Students”
(so the Russellites like to call themselves) seem-
ingly appeal to Scripture, they really base all their
peculiar teachings on human reason. A very prac-
tical discussion followed with regard to the appeal
Russellism makes to the Negro and how to
combat it.

In his own inimitable way, Pastor Carter gave
a practical demonstration of how he deals with
“prospects” who are infected with the leaven of
Christian Science. Now and then our Chicago
brother would stop to lead a round-table discussion
on some individual point, with the result that his
brethren are now more thoroughly armed than ever
to grapple with this non-scientific and antichristian
fraud parading under the banner of Christianity.

The first day was brought to a close with a ser-
vice held in conjunction with Pastor Mueller’s con-
gregation. Pastor Carter delivered a lecture on
“Christian Education” and paused every so often to
give those assembled an opportunity for questions
and open discussion.
that the conference decided to spend both of its
evenings with the local congregation in the future,
continuing the open discussion at one gathering and
celebrating Holy Communion at the other.

The conference “sat” until 9.30 p.m. of Jan-
uary 8, rounding off a well-balanced program with
a brief summary of the best ways and means of
reaching the greatest possible number of colored
people with the men and means God has placed at
our disposal. Emphasis was especially laid upon
the need for adequate places of worship and upon
the advisability of working among the educated
class of our Negro population.

Our next conference will be held January 21

Such interest was displayed-

and 22, 1931. The place of meeting has not been
definitely established.

In the meantime we are looking forward to the
great mass-meeting of the workers in our Colored
Missions, the General Conference to be held at
Springfield, ll., June 25—29 of this year. E. Pr.

Remarks on Our Statistical Report.

The usual annual statistical report on our
Colored Missions is printed on the next two pages
of this number of the LurHeran Pioneer. The
report clearly shows that God has again abundantly
blessed the labors of our missionaries. In several
departments of the work there has been an un-
precedented increase.

According to the statistical report our Missions
now have 62 organized congregations and 14
preaching-places, three congregations and one
preaching-place less than in the year 1928. The
statistical report does not include the stations at
Piney Woods, Miss., Chester, Pa., Swansboro, N. C.,
and Little Rock, Ark. In these 62 congregations
and 14 preaching-places our missionaries are serving
6,528 souls, or baptized members. This is a net gain
of 524 souls, the largest increase in the history of
the Missions.

The number of communicant members is 3,545,
or 221 more than in 1928. 3,320 children are at-
tending the day-schools, 50 less than in 1928. The
Sunday-schools have 4,190 pupils, which is 501 more
than in 1928.

During the past year 601 persons were baptized,
or 89 more than during the previous year. This is
the largest number ever baptized in a single year
since the beginning of our Colored Missions.
Exactly 401 persons were confirmed, which is an
increase of 40. This, too, is a record-breaker in our
Missions.

There were 10,518 guests at the Lord’s Table, an
increase of 159. On an average, every confirmed
member partook of the Lord’s Supper three times
during the year. This record is good, but it could
be better.

During the year 1929, 49 couples were married,
an increase of 8. The number of burials was only
64, a decrease of 11. The death-rate in our Mis-
sions is remarkably low: about 10 out of every
thousand. The Negro death-rate throughout the
country is about 20 per thousand. Here we have
a plain proof of the fact that our members lead

(Continued on page 26.)