The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Sheet 154

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

2. Mount Zion Chapel, New Orleans; Rey. Oscar
Luecke, pastor, since 1925. 644 souls, 212 commu-
nicant and 59 voting members. The day-school en-
rolment is 221 and that of the Sunday-school 238.
The Sunday morning services are attended by an
average of 142, the greatest number of whom are
children, and the Sunday evening services by an
average of 52, mostly adults. Of the 221 pupils in
the day-school some 180 are either baptized or con-
firmed Lutherans. Twenty-four are brothers and
‘sisters of these Lutheran children; but they were
baptized in their infancy in some other church and
therefore are not yet enrolled on our church register,
but profess to be Lutherans. Mount Zion School is
now practically an exclusively Lutheran school.

3. Bethlehem Chapel, New Orleans; Rev. G. M.
Kramer, pastor, since 1907. 322 souls, 204 com-
municant and 16 voting members. The school is
attended by 251 pupils, the Sunday-school by 167,
the Sunday morning services by an average of 100,
mostly children, and the Sunday evening services
by an average of 46, almost exclusively adults. Of
the day-school pupils some 75 are Lutherans, either
by confirmation or Baptism. Many of the other
pupils profess to be Lutherans.

Bethlehem for a number of years was practically
at a standstill. Many of our members moved to
other cities, forming the nuclei of our present con-
gregations in those cities. But our depleted ranks
are being filled again. Strangers are present in all
services. Our buildings are primitive; but they
will be renovated and painted during the summer.
With this work done, Bethlehem will look forward
to a still brighter future. In August Teacher Aaron
Wiley will have rounded out twenty-five years as
Lutheran teacher in our mission-school.

4. Trinily Chapel, New Orleans; Rev. Luther
Robinson, pastor since April, 1932. Trinity Con-
gregation numbers at present 110 souls, 54 com-
municant and 11 voting members. The day-school
is attended by 132 pupils, the Sunday-school by 118.
The average attendance at the morning services
is 56. Of the day-school pupils 34 are Lutherans.
Recently the Bible class was reorganized and a
ladies’ aid society founded. ‘Trinity was served
faithfully for many years by Rev. Wildgrube of
St. Paul’s.

5. Concordia Chapel, New Orleans; Rev. G. M.
Kramer, pastor since 1912. Concordia is located in
the far up-town part of the city, formerly near the
city limits. It was started in 1912 with two mem-
bers and a school in an old hall. There was no

growth for a number of years. Now the congrega-
tion numbers 89 souls, 63 communicant and 8 vot-
ing members. The day-school is attended by 113
pupils, very few of whom are Lutherans. The
average attendance at the Sunday morning service
is 43 and at the mid-week services about 30. Three
children were confirmed in April, two of whom were
baptized on the day of their confirmation.

At Concordia our work has been hampered by
the poor building in which our mission is housed.
No suitable new building site could be found at a
reasonable price. Now it seems that the depression
has come to our aid. We have an “agreement to
sell” signed up with the owner for a site 150X265
feet for $2,600, which was priced at $8,000 a year
ago. A suitable, but modest stucco building is to be
erected on the new site, and the present property is
to be sold. With proper buildings, Concordia is des-
tined to make forward strides. Concordia is also to
receive its own pastor during the course of the
summer.

6. A new mission in New Orleans; Rev. Luecke,
pastor. There are large untouched sections in New
Orleans which hold promising mission opportuni-
ties. Rev. Luecke opened a new mission between
Bethlehem and Mount Zion on the one side and
Concordia on the other: The services were held in
an abandoned shack, formerly a church, which was
rented for $1.50 a month. Now this building has
been sold, but another building has been found, for
which the same rent is paid. The services, which
are held on Sunday afternoons, are attended by
from 30 to 35 adults and children. Some of those
who have heard of our Lutheran Church through
this mission are attending services in our larger
churches now.

7. Augustana, Alexandria, La.; Rev. Eugene
Berger, pastor since 1925. Augustana Js our
youngest congregation outside of New Orleans,
numbering at the present 104 souls, 50 communi-
cant and 10 voting members. The day-school,
which is taught by Rev. Berger and his wife, has
an enrolment of 107 pupils; the Sunday-school, 91.
The evening services are attended by an average of
37 and the mid-week services by 22.

8. St. Paul’s, Mansura, La.; Rey. C. P. Thomp-
son, pastor since 1925. This is our oldest country
congregation, with 158 souls, 115 communicants,
and 27 voting members. Quite a number of new
members have been gained. The services are at-
tended by an average of 74. The day-school has an
enrolment of 50, all Lutheran children, with an
average attendance of 34.