# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1919_S72 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 72 The Lutheran Pioneer. Shutting Out Blessings. An old pastor used to tell the story of a poor member of his congregation who was unable to pay her rent, and whose goods were about to be seized and taken from her. Hearing of her great trouble, the pastor procured the money necessary to relieve her, and went to place it in her hands. He found the house closed, the shutters down, and the doors locked. He knocked loud and long, but received no answer. He tried the doors, but all in vain. Un- able to gain admittance, he finally went away. The next day he met the woman on the street, and told her of his visit. With mingled astonish- ment and confusion she said to her old pastor, “I heard the knocking, but I thought it was the officer come to get my goods, and I was bound not to let him come in.” When I heard this story, the thought came to me, “How much like our behavior toward our heavenly Father when He comes to bring us bles- sings, riches, and joys! And how much like that do we act toward the Lord Jesus, who comes to pay our debts! We lock the door against Him and compel Him to leave without having carried out His gracious purpose!” Yes, how often the dear Lord is misunderstood by His own people in His gracious visitations! Every day He comes to our hearts’ doors with His mercies, but often we do not open, and thus lose much of the glorious things He has intended for us. Just in days of sickness and trouble we deprive ourselves of much grace and many blessings because we misunderstand Him, and refuse to let Him come into our hearts. F. J.L. Pe me Sl nirst!’2 For seven long years the missionaries of the Paris Missionary Society had vainly preached the Gospel among the Basutos of South Africa. Not a soul had been touched, not one person had accepted the Gospel. Then, one evening, several of the mis- sionaries spoke to an assembly of heathen on the Lord’s suffering and death. A strange agitation was suddenly noticed among the people. One of the men hastened out greatly excited. He was followed and was found on his knees weeping. Upon being asked the cause of his emotion, he answered : “O the cry of the Savior, I thirst, and the thought that no one was there to give Him, the Son of God, Ss SSeS a drop of water; it is this that penctrates my soul like an arrow!” This heathen had heard and under- stood the Savior’s cry. He became the first-fruit among the Basutos, and later faithfully proclaimed, and helped to spread, the Gospel among his people. 1 dis 1G ———_—_—__ BOOK TABLE. Luther the Liberator. By William Dallmann. Fifth Thousand, Northwestern Publishing House, Mil- waukee, Wis. 87 pages; cloth-bound. Price, 25 cts. ; $2.40 per dozen; $15.00 per hundred. Order from Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. This book is a compilation of many quotations bearing on Luther and the Reformation. It is interesting to see in this book what a great value others who are not La- therans place upon Luther and his work. The book is worth reading. Praise Ye the Lord, All Ye Lands. Composed by Wal- ter Sassmannshausen, 10 pages. Price, 25 ets. ; $2.25 per dozen; postage extra, Order from the composer, 2061 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IIl., or from Concordia Publishing House, St. Jouis, Mo. A hymn of praise for mixed choirs, with a soprano solo. Very appropriate for the Reformation Festival, church dedication, missionary meetings, and other festive occasions. The soprano solo may also be taken over by a children’s chorus with fine effect. The music is well adapted to the words and not too dificult. The organ accompaniment is very good. F. J. L. ACKNOWLEDGMEN's. Received for Colored Missions from the following Ool- ored congregations: Bethany, Nyland, $2.62; Bethany, Yonkers, 25.00; Bethlehem, Greenville 20.00; Bethlehem, New Orleans, 40.00; Carrollton, New Orleans, 10.00; Christ, Rosebud, 15.00; Concordia, Rozkwell, 12.00; Im- manuel, Brooklyn, 8.00; Mount Calvary, Tilden, 9.42; Mount Calvary, Mount Pleasant, 6.00; Mount Carmel, Midway, 6.81; Mount Olive, Catawba, 2.50; Mount Zion, Charlotte, 10.00; Mount Zion, New Orleans, 30.00; Mount Zion, Rocks, 30.00; Redeemer, New (Orleans, .53 3 Rich- ~ mond, 31.60; St. Andrew, Vredenburgt, 5.10; St. James, Buena Vista, 1.30; St. James, Southern Pines, 10.00; St. Matthew, Meherrin, 97.83; St. Paul, Charlotte, 22.00; St. Paul, Mansura, 5.00; St. Paul, Nepoleonville, 20.00; St. Paul, New Orleans, 25.00; St. Paul, Oak Hill, 10.00; Trinity, Albemarle, 6.00; Trinity, Elon College 1.86; Washington, .75; Grace, Greensboro, 25.00; St. Luke, High Point, 5.00; Winston, 4.65.— Total, $504.97. K. F. Rormemr, Ass’t Treas., 36784 Folsom Ave., St. Louis, Mo. THE LUTHHRAN PIONEER is published monthly, payable in advance at the following rates per annum, postage in- cluded, to wit :— De COD Voi aos iviere sve tee ae «inet $ 25 MO COPIES a aja siel