# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1884_S14 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 14 Letter from New Orleans. DEAR PIONEER: — The death of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, to whose memory these lines are written, was a great loss to the Colored St. Paul’s Church. Alfred Anderson was the first adult member that the Lord added to our congregation here, and alas, the first one which he was pleased to take away. The loss is the more severely felt as the deceased was not a mere well-wisher of the church as many term themselves, but an active member and a faithful ‘‘worker together » with us for the welfare of our church. pioneer mission work the cooperation of active, zealous members is very much needed. lose him. When we most needed him he was taken fromus. Unsearchable are the ways of the Lord! The deceased was a native of Baltimore, Md. Some time before the war he emigrated with his mother into Louisiana. Attending a re- ligious meeting once he was brought to the consciousness of his lost condition and to faith in his Savior. Shortly after he was baptized. He now began to frequent churches of the Bap- tists and Methodists, but could never consent to become a member of either, though often urged upon. It was the noisy, disorderly con- duct carried on in the house of God that kept him back. He was of a quiet disposition, hum- ble and modest in his manners; noise and un- becoming gayety of any kind was disgusting to him. He visited churches of other denomi- nations; but the result was thesame; he found not what he sought: a plain setting forth of the Gospel truth. At last his visits to any church became more and more rare. Care- Jessness and indifference was the consequence. In this state he was found at the time we began our mission work here. A neighbor of his, then a little school girl, now a prominent mem- ber of our church, invited him to the Ey.-Luth. St. Paul’s Chapel. The Lutheran name was entirely new to him; but like many others who visited our church at that time, he came more for the sake of curiosity than for any desire to have his soul saved. Yet this day became a » turning point in his life. In his boundless mercy God had not withdrawn his hand from the erring sinner. After years of carelessness, indifference and unbelief the Savior here sought him and found him. ‘For the first time in my life,’” he stated afterwards, ‘‘I experienced the truth of the words of the Psalmist: ‘How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts.’”” He resolved henceforth to dwell in His house the remaining days of his life; nor did he vio- late his promise. But his days were soon numbered. His health, which had begun to fail several years'ago, became s0 seriously im- ‘paired’ as to compel him to suspend his labors _ in the Custom House where he was employed. _ An attack of pneumonia confined him to the ed; he recovered sufficient strength to walk ibout, but his former physical vigor he never ” In our It seemed to us as though we could not bear to regained. One Sunday afternoon, in the month of September, he was seen working his way to the church. Now and then he paused to take breath and to rest. But he reached the church and listened as usually with attention and at- traction to the Word of God. It was his last walk and his last visit to the church militant. From that day the old disease assumed a more dangerous form and he sank rapidly. During his illness we visited him frequently and we always found him strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, though deeply humbled because of his sins. But a few mo- ments before he expired we heard him repeat the words of Paul: ‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom Tam chief.’’ To this he added a short prayer. The words were indistinct and the voice was faint, but plain and audible to him who heareth before we ask. On the 20th day of November he committed his soul to the Savior, who had redeemed it and cleansed it with His blood. On the day following his mortal remains were conveyed to the St. Paul’s Chapel where a funeral sermon was delivered to a large au- dience, after which they were consigned to the society tomb.—Mary Anderson, the wife of the deceased, survived her husband but for a short time. On the 27th day of February this year she peacefully and joyfully fell asleep. For some time she visited our church in company with her husband. It was his fervent desire that she, too, should join hischurch; and shortly after his death she became a member. But she was not a diligent church goer. Being left to battle her way alone through the world she was ‘careful and troubled about many things and the one thing needful’’ was neglected. Be- fore her leaving this world however she under- went a great change, that change which every one must experience who is to enter the king- dom of God. Days of sickness and two trials were in store for her, but they were days of wholesome visitation in which God knocked at her heart more loudly and peacefully than ever. And he was admitted. For three weary months she was confined to her room suffering from dropsy. As to her recovery there was little or no hope and she knew it, and set her house in order. Fourteen days before her decease we administered to her the Lord’s Supper. This greatly strengthened her faith. She declared now that she was prepared to depart at any moment and besought the Lord to come quickly. Her last days were of heartrending agonies. Her disease made it impossible for her to be in any other than a standing position. Night and day alike she stood leaning onachair. At last God came to herrelief. She asked to be brought to the bed being unable to stand any longer, but before she reached it she expired. With- out any struggle she calmly yielded up her soul into the hands of Him who gave it, in the sure hope of eternal life. The funeral discourse was delivered at the house where she resided and her mortal remains cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.’’ sentiment and language of Paul be ours. ‘The Lutheran Pioneer. put with those of her husband in the society tomb, awaiting the great resurrection day. New Orleans, La., March 17th, 1884. MIssionary. o