The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Sheet 148

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WES) THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

Convention of Synodical Conference
and Our Colored Missions.

At its biennial meeting, held in Quincy, II1.,
August 5—10, this venerable body devoted much
and earnest attention to our work among the freed-
men of our country. The report of the Board for
Colored Missions, published in our September issue,
was thoroughly discussed in the numerous sessions
of a large committee especially appointed for the
purpose and commanded the interest of all the dele-
gates for the greater part of the afternoon meetings
of the Conference.

The following resolutions were adopted by the
convention with regard to matters referred to in the
report of the Board for Colored Missions. (We are
not giving the resolutions in their formal dress, but
simply their contents.)

1. Because the report of the Board revealed the
fact that there was a net gain of over a thousand in
the baptized membership of our Colored Mission
churches and that our colored congregations gave
apparent token of their living in Christ by frequent
participation of the Lord’s Supper and by their
liberal financial support of the Lord’s work among
them the Conference gratefully acknowledged the
grace of God, expressed its appreciation to the Board
and its laborers for their faithful services, and be-
sought the Savior’s continued presence and blessings.

2. The kindness of the congregations of Rey. A.
y. Schlichten, Yonkers, N. Y., and of Rev. A. Katt,
Cleveland, O., in permitting the Negro Missions at
these places to use their properties to hold divine
services, induced the Conference to pass resolutions

- of thanks, which were to be conveyed to the brethren
by the secretary.

8. The Conference expressed its delight over the
opportunity offered at Piney Woods, Miss., com-

, mended the Board for its prompt and wise action,
acknowledged the efficiency of Pastor Schmidt’s
work, and recommended that the work be con-
tinued.

4. The lay delegates, in a special meeting, ex-
pressed their regret that our mission-work was so
greatly hampered by a lack of funds and also voiced
their fear that this lack of funds might discourage
the opening of new fields and the expansion of the
work. or these reasons they resolved that they
would use their most “earnest efforts for the better
education of the members of their congregations

Tegarding the needs and blessings of missionary
work.” These lay delegates also gave expression to

their determination. to “continue prayerfully and
with energy to work for a loving inculcation of the
Biblical principles of Christian stewardship and for

the development of greater and better interest, more ~

liberal financial support, and more general par-
ticipation of our members in the work of the king-
dom of our Savior.”

5. The Conference evinced great interest in the
three higher educational institutions of our Colored
Missions and proved this interest to be sincere and
practical by a number of resolutions which, if car-
ried out, will greatly strengthen our educational
work among the Negroes. ‘Thus it was decided to
add two years of a college course to the course of
study at Immanuel Lutheran College and so raise
it to the grade of a junior college. The Conference
sanctioned the decision of the Mission Board to
add a year to the course of our normal school at
Selma, Ala. The preparatory school at New Orleans
will in future have a tenth grade; a residence is to
be rented near the school to serve as a dormitory for
girl students, and a matron is to supervise the girls
and prepare meals for boy and girl students. ‘The
sum of $5,000 was granted for the renovation and
equipment of Luther Preparatory School at New
Orleans. We hope that the Board may never find it
advisable to make use of its authority to discontinue
the enrolment of girl students after the present
school-year. :

6. During the whole past year Pastors Luecke of
Mount Zion and Wildgrube of St. Paul’s in New
Orleans gave much of their time and services to
Luther Preparatory School, in appreciation of which
the Conference gave them a vote of thanks.

7. The Conference gratefully acknowledged the
faithful labors of the late Rev. Frank D. Alston as
pastor and superintendent in the Southeastern Field
of our Colored Missions over a period of many years
and passed the following resolutions: “Resolved that
we thank God for the rich blessings which He has
bestowed upon the Church through the departed and
ask the Lord to let the example of this brother
stimulate us all, and especially our colored brethren,
to faithful service; and be it further resolved that
the secretary send a copy of these resolutions and
a letter of condolence to the widow of the departed
and her son in Charlotte, N. C.”

8. Pastor Drewes, the faithful and efficient direc-
tor of our Colored Missions, was given a rising vote
of thanks for twenty-two years of service. The Con-
ference expressed the sincere wish that he might
soon be restored to full health and strength, and the