# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1922_S30 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) The Lutheran Pioneer. 29 know that they want many others who still are in darkness and in the shadow of death to come to the light of the Gospel and be saved. May the Savior Himself make you willing to give an offering for these two places, and may He continue to bless the work our Lutheran Church is doing, to the end that many more poor, benighted souls be brought to the knowledge of the truth and be saved! G. A. Scmaupr. a Alabama Notes. February 17 to 18 the Pastoral Conference met at the Possum Bend Church (Rev. Westcott, pas- tor) to hold its monthly meeting. Friday night Rey. Berger preached the sermon to an attentive audience. After the sermon Superintendent Schmidt read an instructive and timely paper on “Unionism.” The paper was thoroughly discussed and digested by the members of Conference and the congregation. The visiting strangers, however, had nothing to say then, but on the way home from the service as they splashed into one mud-hole and sidestepped another, they told the stars, moon, each other, and the world just what they thought of the paper and the “Tucas’s” (Lutherans’) practise of not visiting other churches. God’s Word is, indeed, “quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a dis- cerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” and we must wield this sword in spite of the con- sequences. Saturday morning Rev. Westcott read a sermon on “The Gadarene Maniac’s Riddance from Devils,” showing 1. the great need of it; 2. the wonderful manner in which it was done; 3. the effects it had. The other brethren then presented outlines on Luke 18, 31—43. Conference later listened to an exegesis on Romans 6, 1—14, which Rev. Westcott rendered. At twelve o’clock the members of Con- ference enjoyed an appetizing lunch which the ladies of the congregation had prepared in the schoolroom. Filled with the good things which the ladies of Possum Bend’know so well how to prepare, the brethren were ready for the business of the afternoon session. Quite a batch of business was disposed of during the afternoon, among which was the reception and adoption of the program for the Teachers’ Institute which is to be held at Tinela, beginning with the fourth Sunday in July. Below is the program for the weck. All concerned will please take note and come prepared to “perform.” Opening address: Rey. R. O. L. Lynn. Monday night, paper: “How to Conduct One’s Self in the House of God.” Rey. R. O. L. Lynn. ‘Tuesday night, sermon: Rev. E. R. Berger. Wednesday night, paper: “Office of the Keys and Confes- sion.” Rev. C. D. Peay. Thursday night, sermon: Supt. G. A. Schmidt. Friday night, paper: “Denominations and Their Origin.” Rev. E. A. Westcott. Sunday morning, confessional address: Rey. R. 0. L. Lynn; sermon: Rey. C. D. Peay. Sunday afternoon, sermon: Rev. J. S. Montgomery. Sunday night, sermon: Supt. G. A. Schmidt. Tn the day sessions the following papers will be rendered by the teachers: — “Difliculties Experienced in Advancing Pupils.” Miss M. L. Pilkington, A Catechization: Miss Annie M. McBryde. Presentation of a Bible History: Miss L. M. Stallworth. “How We can Introduce Sewing Instruction into the Schools.” Miss 8. B. Cannon. General business session. On his way to conference, Rev. Berger and his trusty steed “Dal” were treated to a sudden mud- bath when the buggy overturned and he landed in the center pf an inviting mud-hole. A hot fire and a whisk-broom soon had the brother “shipshape” for presenting himself to the audience. Rev. Mont- gomery did not show up for conference. He had to cross the Alabama River on a flat-boat before he could meet with us, and it may be that he — but perish the thought! 1922 bids fair to be a record-breaking year for us here in the “Black Belt.” With the opening of the year two new mission-stations were opened, namely, Holy Ark, near Joffre, and Long Mire, be- tween Vredenburgh and Camden. Holy Ark! Long Mire! Well, our beloved Superintendent says his Ford can do anything and go anywhere, and he ought to know. But Long Mire and Holy Ark! Even the most docile Ford engine must sigh and tremble, kick and back-fire when headed for places with such names. “When I came out of the ark and got stuck in the ‘mire,’ whew!! Well, some. Fords are animis opibusque parali*, whatever that may mean. — At the close of February there were 116 souls taking instruction for confirmation. This is, indeed, something for which we should thank God “with heart, and hands, and voices.” Pray the Lord of the harvest that He may send more laborers into the vineyard! R. O. L. L. * “Ready in mind and resources.” A part of the motto of South Carolina. — Eprror.