The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 150

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150

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

The Board.

Members of the Board whose terms expire:
Revs. Theo. Walther, E. L. Wilson, O. C. A. Boecler ;
Mr. Theo. Steinmeyer — Missouri Synod. Rey. W.
Hoenecke, Wisconsin Synod.

We are happy to report that the valuable services
of Mr. Theo. W. Eckhart as treasurer were retained.

Prof. Theo. Graebner found it imperative to re-
sign from the Board in 1931, and Dr. J. T. Mueller
was chosen to serve in his place.

Changes.

In October, 1930, Superintendent G. A. Schmidt
received and accepted the call to Piney Woods, Miss.,
thus creating a vacancy in the Alabama Field. Rev.
EE. A. Westcott, then assistant superintendent, was
called as full-time superintendent and accepted
the call.

The Eastern Field is now under the superinten-
dency of the Rev. Wm. H. Gehrke since January,
1931. By his entering into this work a vacancy was
created in the faculty of Immanuel Lutheran Col-
lege, which was filled by the Rev. Arnold Penne-
kamp from the Southern Illinois District of the
Missouri Synod.

Miscellaneous.
1. Meetings of the Board.

During the biennium your Board assembled for
twenty-two regular and five plenary meetings. The
work demands one full-day session for regular meet-
ings, while the plenary meeting usually requires two
days. Special committee meetings, naturally, were
called at times. All the members of the Board are
giving the best they have to give in the cause.

2. Salaries of Workers.

Present conditions are forcing many unpleasant
things upon us. One of these unpleasant tasks that
confronted your Board was the reduction of sal-
aries. All workers in the field, however, understand
the situation and have therefore accepted the reduc-
tion willingly.

3. Salary of Executive Secretary.

Since the salary of the Executive Secretary is
fixed by the Synodical Conference, and since our
financial conditions are undergoing changes con-
tinually, your Board petitions the Hon. Synodical
Conference to rescind its action fixing the Executive
Secretary’s salary and to permit the Board to fix
his salary in harmony with prevailing conditions at
the time when it is ready to call an Executive Sec-
retary.

4. The Board’s Policy Concerning Opening of New
Stations.

The Board has adopted the policy that new sta-
tions be established and supported by the brethren
of the respective places since the prevailing financial
situation does not permit additional expenditures.
If any are opened, it should be done under the
direction of the Board, preferably at such places
where we can look forward to a self-supporting con-
gregation. 5. Africa.

A special report will be submitted by Rev. I. L.
Wilson, chairman of the Board for African Mis-
sions.

The Louisiana Field.
By SUPERINTENDENT G. M. Kramer.

Looking over the various reports as they come
to me from our pastors in the Louisiana Field, I am
constrained to say that in spite of our weakness and
little faith the Lord has been with us and has
blessed the labors of our feeble hands. The present
time is harvest-lime also in our mission. Many are
turning from the emptiness and shallowness of the
sectarian churches to the abundant fountains of
grace which flow for them in the sound Gospel-
preaching of our Lutheran missions. Our mission
opportunities in the city of New Orleans, with a col-
ored population of 130,000, are increasing day by
day. Our services, compared with those of other
churches, are well attended. We have now a large
percentage of Lutheran children in all our schools.
The day does not seem far off when nearly all our
day-school pupils will be Lutherans. The depres-
sion has caused a shifting of the population and has
brought many newcomers into the near surround-
ings of our churches. The services in all our
churches are visited by many strangers. May God
strengthen our hands and give us the courage and
grace to rise to the opportunities !

Permit me to give you a brief insight into each
mission-station as I report on them in the order of
their numerical strength, first here in the city, then
in the country.

1. St. Paul’s Chapel, New Orleans; Rev. EB. H.
Wildgrube, pastor, since 1922. 533-souls, 308 com-
municant and 37 voting members. The day-school
has 122 pupils, of whom 65 are Lutherans. The
average attendance at the Sunday morning services
is 131 and of the mid-week services about 80.

In May, 1931, St. Paul’s celebrated its fiftieth
anniversary. The buildings, both church and school,
had heen thoroughly renovated for the occasion.