# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1899_S42 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 42, The Lutheran Pioneer. (For the LUTHERAN PIONEER.) Milwaukee Congregation of Deaf-Mutes. Our picture shows most of the members of our ‘Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Con- gregation of Deaf-Mutes at Milwaukee, Wis. ,” and part of the school house in which they meet for divine service. In the year 1896, upon urgent request of Rey. Reinke sen., of Chicago, the Missouri Synod, then convening at Fort Wayne, Ind., resolved to take up the work among the deaf of this country, in consequence of which three missionaries are now laboring among these un- fortunates, residing respectively at Milwaukee, Chicago, and Cincinnati. The following cities are being attended to by these missionaries: Chi- cago and the neighboring _ cities, St.Paul,Minneapo- lis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, Evansville, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Racine, and Oshkosh. Here it may be said that Rev. T. Claus of Elkhart, Ind., who has become proficient in the sign-lan- guage, has also taken up mission work among the deaf in Elkhart, Goshen, and South Bend, Ind. In. the autumn of the year 1896, Rev. T. Wan- gerin was installed among the deaf of Milwaukee, and his work has been visibly blessed by our Lord. In the summer of 1898, after public confir- mation of eight grown deaf persons, steps were taken towards the organization of a deaf congregation. A constitution has been accepted and a congre- gation established, numbering at the present time 18 voting and 35 communicating mem- bers with a prospective increase of about five or six members in the near future. This con- gregation is now partly supporting its pastor, besides raising moneys to cover local expenses. At the recent meeting of the Missouri Synod at St. Louis this congregation applied to the Synod for membership and was admitted ‘with great joy. ‘his is the first Evangelical Lutheran congregation of deaf-mutes in Wis- consin and the first of its kind connected with the Missouri Synod. Through solicitations by Rev. Wangerin 47 deaf-mutes have subscribed to and are eager readers of the FIoNEER. It must be said that the deaf are very grateful for the Word of Salvation and acknowledge the good done them by the Synod. _ Undoubtedly every reader will be glad to Tearn that this young mission is gradually growing larger through God’s grace. May God, from whom all blessings flow, hold His gracious hand over it, that many be saved from destruction, many be crowned with lov- ingkindness and tender mercies, many be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of the Lord’s house, and many be made to drink of the river of the Lord’s pleasures, through Christ. X. ——> +o e+ Children in Japan. Before nearly every house in Japan stands an immense mast, taller than the roof, and on it float huge fishes, red or green, made of cloth, which the wind fills out so that they are quite life-like. These fishes indicate the num- ber of boys in each family—a son to each Lutheran Congregation of Deaf-Mutes at Milwaukee, Wis.: fish. The Japanese are great fishermen and fish fanciers, and the carp, which always swims up stream, is much admired by them for its courage and perseverance. It has, therefore, become the emblem of the boys. But, when there are only girls in the family, nothing is put upon the mast—they do not count at all! Since we are speaking of fishes, let me tell you that the Japanese children eat a great deal of fish, and eat it entirely raw, too. The fishes are kept alive in the kitchen, either in sea water or river wafer, and, when meal-time comes, they are cut upin small pieces and eaten without salt, pepper, or seasoning of any kind. In Japan, knives and forks are unknown, so two little sticks, called chop-sticks, are used to eat the fish. At first thought, the idea of eating raw fish is unpleasant; but do we not eat oysters and clams raw, in America, some- times? There are many toys made in Japan for the children. All the games known here are to be found there, and many others besides. In Tokyo, the capital, there is one quarter of the city, consisting of three or four streets, in whose bazars nothing is sold but children’s toys. Christmas and New Year are unknown as holidays, but once each year there is a great children’s festival. On that day the bazar quarter is beautifully illuminated; the toy-shops are filled with pretty things, and the children gather there and are laden down by their parents with all the toys that their arms can carry. : Japanese boys are extremely brave and patriotic; they love their country with all their heart, and would willingly give their lives to defend it. When the late war be- tween Japan and China was raging, all the boys of fifteen and sixteen who thought themselves strong enough to carry a gun and fight, offered to enlist. Their services, however, were not needed, as Japan already had an army larger than was nec- essary to vanquish the Chinese. There are in Japan several military schools and a great naval academy, where young men are prepared to be- come officers in the army or navy. Pleasant Hours. > + o-