The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 153

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER 153

Resolutions Concerning Our Negro
Missions.

Adopted at the convention of the Synodical Conference,
August 10—15, 1932.

1. The convention, first of all, called attention
to the fact that God again bestowed His abundant
blessings upon the work of our Colored Missions
during the past two years. He granted our mission-
aries grace to be faithful and self-sacrificing laborers
and blessed their efforts to further their flocks in
Christian knowledge and to gain others for Christ
and His Church. In spite of the lack of funds and
in spite of our unworthiness, our Colored Missions
experienced an internal as well as an external
growth. “QO give thanks unto the Lord, for He is
good; because His mercy endureth forever.”

2. Mission-Schools.— Resolved, That the Synod-
ical Conference encourage the Board to expand the
school-work and the missionaries to receive also non-
Lutheran children as far as conditions permit.

3. New Fields.—Resolved, That a) new stations
for which funds are to be requested should not be
established without the consent of the Board;
b) that white congregations intending to establish
and maintain colored missions in their midst be ad-
vised to confer with the Board in order to benefit
by its experience.

4. Concerning Higher Educational Work. — Re-
solved, a) That we ratify the action of the Board in
discontinuing Luther College at New Orleans;
b) that Alabama Luther College henceforth serve
as a preparatory school for Immanuel Lutheran Col-
lege by teaching the eighth and ninth grades;
c) that the work at Immanuel Lutheran College
continue in its present form, including the “open-
door” policy, until the Synodical Conference de-
cides otherwise; that the Synodical Conference ap-
point a committee to study the situation as to the
wisest course to be pursued at our Negro institutions
in respect to the “open-” or “closed-door” policy.
(The chair was instructed to appoint this committee
in conjunction with the Board.)

5. Concerning the PionEER and the Afissions-
taube. — Resolved, a) That we continue to publish
the Missionstaube and the PIONEER because both the
direct and the indirect results warrant their publi-
cation; b) that we encourage the pastors of the four
synods of the Synodical Conference to gain more
subscribers for these periodicals and to plead their
cause before the societies of their congregations;
c) that the Board be instructed to seek lower publi-
cation costs for the Pronrer and the Missionstaube,

without, however, lowering the quality of their
mechanical make-up or giving the work to an un-
reliable firm; d) that our Board be instructed to
entertain and consider various plans to stimulate
and increase the circulation of these two mission-
ary papers, the Missionstaube and the LUTHERAN
PronEER; e) that the various District representa-
tives be encouraged to appoint conference represen-
tatives and to keep the latter informed as to the
weal and woe of the missions of our Synodical Con-
ference; also that such representatives urge and
solicit subscriptions for our mission-papers, the Lu-
THERAN Pioneer and the Missionstaube.

6. Christian Giving. — Resolved, That we re-
joice in the fact that our colored Christians are
making commendable progress in the practise of the
Christian virtue of giving.

7. Salaries.— Resolved, That the Synodical Con- -
ference express its confidence in the Board, that
in making the necessary reduction in salaries, ren-
dered necessary by the present economic depression,
it exercised proper care, so that not too severe hard-
ships were inflicted on the workers in the field.

8. Surplus Candidates as Negro Missionaries.—
Resolved, That we instruct our District representa-
tives to approach pastoral conferences as to the pos-
sibility of employing surplus candidates as Negro
missionaries in their territory, it being definitely
understood, however, that actual mission-work
among the Negroes is to be undertaken only in con-
junction with the Mission Board.

9. Building Appropriations.— Resolved, a) That
the Board for Colored Missions be authorized to ex-
haust its borrowing power granted four years ago
and use these funds at stations where according to
its judgment new buildings are needed; b) that it
appeal to the readers of the Missionstaube and the
ProneEER for personal contributions for new build-
ings at. such other places as are exceptionally prom-
ising and for which appropriations have been
granted; c) that under prevailing circumstances
the Mission Board do not ask for additional appro-
priations for buildings and the expansion of Col-
ored Missions beyond those authorized by the Synod-
ical Conference two years ago. ‘The making of
emergency appropriations, however, if HELERY is
hereby authorized.

Dr. Geo. Mezger and Rev. Christopher F. Drewes.

The following resolution was edgy by a rising
vote: —

Wuereas, Since the last meeting of the Synod-
ical Conference it has pleased Almighty God to call