# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1913_S36 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 36 The Lutheran Pioneer. regular. and generous in contributing of her means towards the support of the Gospel, and active in helping to save the souls of others, she has, to- gether with other members, done much for the upbuilding of her congregation. She is one of those few. too, who does not forget to encourage and cheer the pastor with gifts of love and appre- ciation. In her prime days, when she was able to work hard and command good wages, there was a Christmas turkey, fruits and cakes, and something besides at the Christmas tree, too, for the pastor and teacher. Let others follow her example. Make the servants of God feel that their labor is appre- ciated. - Sister Hosband has always been, and still is, . an active missionary coworker. ‘Though she has not had the opportunity of a school education, — for she grew up in the days of slavery, — she has stored her memory with a goodly number of Bible passages and gems from the rich storehouse of Lutheran hymnology, and is able to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. Not only does she talk to the people of the one thing needful and invite them to the church, but she used to call for them personally and bring: them with her, an ex- ample which church-members ought to copy. At the time she joined the church her own children had outgrown the school shoes. She now applied ; herself to the task of giving her grandchildren. nieces, and nephews a Christian school training. She took them into her home, two and three at a time, provided for them, and paid their expenses at school, and she has had the pleasure of secing them become members of her church. ‘They can neyer repay her for what she has done for them. Sister Hosband is now full of years and almost deaf. She cannot hear or understand a word of the sermon. Yet, despite her eighty years, rheumatism, and other ills and aches, she is a regular attendant at divine service. Slr loves the habitation of the Lord, and the place where His honor dwells. . Nor have her contributions to the church decreased with the decrease of capacity to carn money. She is _ still a liberal giver. May the Lord cheer and comfort her in her old age, and welcome her into the eternal habitations with a “Well done!” N. J. Bakke. ] Apropos of the above, the Editor, who has known’ Mother Hosband for more than twenty years, would add the following: One day he asked Mother Hos- band, while visiting her at*her home, which he x always called her “orphan asylum,” because she always had some orphans under her care: “Do you not find it very tiresome to attend the services, since you can’t understand anything because of your deafness? Why do you go to church never- theless?” Her answer was: “Why do I go to church though I don’t understand the sermon? I'll tell you, pastor. Beeause the church is God’s house, and I am God’s child. By going to my Father's house, I show the people that I belong to God’s family. Then, you know, I can hear a little bit, and so I can catch the tunes and sing those hymns which I know by heart. And another reason for my going to church is to set my children, grand- children, nephews, and ‘orphans,’ as you call them, a good example. I would rather tell them, ‘Come,’ than, ‘Go? ” ; And as for her ‘liberality and benevolence, Rev. Bakke has not said half of what might truth- fully be said. St. Paul’s Sunday-School, Mansura, La. A number of years ago this neighborhood was like an empty vessel, —no Word of God was in it. Children crowded the street on Sunday, not know- ing about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But God remembered us in His mercy; a church was established and a day-school and Sunday-school were opened. While at first the Sunday-school was attended by only a few, it has increased in nunbers, and to-day the attendance is quite good. Now, although our church building was badly damaged by a storm, and looks as though it might fall over at any time, the’ street is crowded every Sunday with boys and girls on their way to Sunday- school. On the first Sunday of every month we have a discussion-on some important subject of a Teligious nature. ‘These discussions not only “interest the young, but also the old. On the first Sunday in April we discussed the subject, “Christian Training in the Family.” Jt was thoroughly discussed; and many instructive points were brought out. Our church-membership is increasing from’ year to year, and hardly a Sunday passes by but sees some strangers coming to our services to hear the pure Word of God. _ May God continue to bless our church and schools; may He help us to increase in numbers and in knowledge! 5 Jos. W. Lenatan, Sunday-school Sup’t.