The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 146

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.Conference was held at Mankato, Minnesota.

146

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

Convention of Synodical Conference,
August 10—15, 1932.

This year’s biennial convention of the Synodical
Im-
manuel Ey. Luth. Congregation (Rev. A. Acker-
mann, pastor) proved a most hospitable host and
did everything within reason to make the delegates
feel at home. All the services and meetings were
held in the beautiful church auditorium, while well-
prepared dinners and suppers were served by the
ladies in the well-arranged basement. Though most
of the delegates were the guests of individual fam-

Rev. G. M. Kramer.

ilies, not a few were most hospitably entertained at
Bethany College, located on a wooded hill dominat-
ing the city of Mankato.

In the opening meeting, Pastor Ackermann, the
chairman of the congregation, and the mayor of the
city bade all a hearty welcome in well-set addresses,
which were appreciatively acknowledged by the
president of the Synodical Conference, Dr. L. Fuer-
bringer.

The convention opened with a divine service, in
which Rey. K. Kretzschmar of Fort Smith, Ar-

_ kansas, preached a gripping sermon on 2 Cor. 6,

1.2. In his opening address the president of the

Synodical Conference spoke of the achievements of

the body during the sixty years of its existence.
Half the time at the disposal of the Conference

was devoted to the discussion of the topic “Christ.
Our King.” This doctrinal discussion was most
ably led by Prof. John Meyer of the Thiensville
Seminary. We are sure that all who heard Pro-
fessor Meyer will agree that it was a most refresh-
ing and faith-strengthening paper. We all could
but ery out with Bernard of Clairvaux as we lis-
tened:— © Jesus, King most wonderful,

Thou Conqueror renowned!

The principal business matter before the con-
vention was the consideration of the Twenty-sixth
Report of the Board for Colored Missions, July,
1930, to June, 1932. This report is so very com-
prehensive and interesting that we shall bring it to.
our readers in this and the two following issues of
the Pronger. The principal resolutions passed by
the Synodical Conference relative to our Colored
Missions are given in another column of this issue.

We must not forget to mention that on Wednes-
day evening members of the congregation met with
the delegates in the dining-room of the church and
there entertained us in truly royal manner. On
Thursday evening the Lutheran Choral Society of
Mankato, under the able direction of Prof. Walter
Buszin of Bethany College, rendered a sacred pro-
gram for us. The well-chosen selections were ex-
cellently rendered. On Friday evening special ser-
vices featuring our mission-work among the colored
people were held. The speakers were Revs. A. C-
Haase and G. M. Kramer. Speaking of Rev. G. M.
Kramer, let us state that in this special mission-
service the fact that he has served twenty-five years
in our Colored Missions was observed in an appro-
priate way. After the sermons had been delivered,
Dr. J. T. Mueller, a member of the Mission Board
and a classmate of the jubilarian, addressed Pastor
Kramer, who was completely taken by surprise.
Dr. Mueller based his congratulatory address on
Matt. 25,40. We are sure that it meant great en-
couragement for Missionary Kramer when his class-
mate referred to his work among the freedmen of
New Orleans in these words: “By the grace of God
you have been privileged to transform enemies of
Christ into His brethren through the testimony of
the Gospel. You have been God’s fellow-worker in
winning souls for His beloved Son. You have dis-
pensed the Bread of Life to the hungry; you have
given the drink of eternal comfort to the thirsty.
You have clothed the naked with the garments of
Christ’s perfect righteousness; you have visited the
sick in sin and-brought them the balm that heals
the wounds of the sin-troubled hearts; you have