LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1917, Page 40

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40 Proceedings of 30th General Convention, V.

CENTRAL AMERICA.

The Board had been authorized by the Synod of 1914 to begin
missionary operations in Panama and Guatemala, if found advisable
The Board is still observing these fields; but conditions there have
not yet warranted the establishment of missions. Synod left. this
question with the Board. '

JEWISH MISSION,

This difficult, but blessed work is restricted to Greater New
York, where one-fourth of the population is Jewish. Missionary
Friedmann, himself a convert, continues to bring to the Jews the
Salvation that has come from the Jews, preaching the Gospel publicly.
and privately, over against much individual and organized persecu- _
tion. Though the visible fruit is small indeed, we know the Word
of God does not return void. We obey the Savior’s command, and,
relying upon His promise, must continue to operate this mission, and
support it with our money and our prayers.

In January, 1917, Vice-President Miller visited the mission, and
encouraged the missionary and the faithful Board that directs
his work. :

From the missionary’s report we take these figures: Preached 161
sermons to total of 6,213 auditors; had 1,784 religious talks in Jewish
homes; visited 3,170 families in New. York and Brooklyn; received.
3,364 Jewish callers in the mission chapel and 396 in the home;
distributed gratis 5,162 tracts, 1,317 catechisms, 751 New Testaments
and 2 Bibles; sold 1583 New Testaments at 10 cents to inquiring |
Jews, also 49 copies of Luther’s Catechism in the missionary’s own
translation; loaned 521 copies of New Testaments on deposits. of ‘.
25 cents each to 521 Jews who had no other connection with the ;
missionary. To the city missionary 200 copies of the Yiddish Cate-
chism were given for free distribution to sick Jews in hospitals.

Thus much precious seed has been sown, and eternity will reveal
some fruit now unseen.

INDIAN MISSION.

Our mission among the Indians on the reservation at Red
Springs, Wis., has passed through troublous times. But the Lord -
helped graciously through it all. The visitation by the Committee |
appointed by: the last Synod brought about a complete reorganization
of the missionary work. Under the new missionary, the Rev. Otis:
Lang, a congregation has now been organized with 28 voting and
77 communicant members and over 200 souls. The members now use
the envelope system for contributing toward .the salary of the mis:
sionary. An average of 50 attend the service at Red’ Springs, and.
on alternating Sundays the Gospel is preached to about 15 Indians,
at both Morgan Siding and Neopit. Other preaching-stations are i