# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1925_S70 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 70 THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. Some years ago it was reported that within 140 miles of the scene of the labors of Robert Morrison, the first Protestant missionary of China, there were three counties, containing some ten thousand vil- Jages, in hundreds of which no missionary or Chris- tian worker had ever set foot. Of the 2,033 walled cities of China only 693 have missionaries. A Crisis. China is like a molten iron, ready for the molding. The present crisis in China is a challenge to the Christian Church to set forth its utmost missionary efforts. Every circumstance calls for prompt and generous action on the part of Chris- tians in behalf of China. China_is loudly calling on us. God is plainly pointing the way for us. To-day is the day of supreme opportunity for the Church. It is a day of supreme responsibility as well. The boundless opportunities which China to- day offers the Christian missionary forces carry with them the responsibility that the Christians of this our generation redeem the time and make the best of present favorable conditions. To bring the Gospel to China was never so urgent as now. F.J.L. The Children’s Collection. Dear Frrenps or Our Cotorep Misstons: — Your Treasurer has been asked to make a report on the progress of the Children’s Collection for buildings in our mission-field. ‘Thig he will en- deavor to do. A report is appended. But, before you read it, you must understand all the circum- stances in connection with such a report. To begin with, we receive money in two ways. The one is the regular, orderly method suggested by our synods, in which all moneys go successively through the hands of the congregational treasurer, the District treasurer, the respective synod’s treas- urer, and from the latter to the treasurer of the Mission Board. When this method is used, the books of the respective treasurers reflect the offer- ings of their constituencies, and we-can give the proper credits to the Districts or synods, as the case may be. The other method used is more direct, in that the offerings of congregations, societies, ‘schools, Sunday-schools, or individuals are sent ' directly to the treasurer of the Mission Board. However, in the present instances it partly defeats the’ purpose to this extent, that the respective Dis- tricts or synods do not get the credit which properly belongs to them. Furthermore, it is not the method advocated by the various synods comprising the Synodical Conference. The immediate purpose.of this report is to show what the respective synods and Districts have offered for the particular project assigned to them. In order to do this, we have summarized our re- ceipts from these sources up to March 31, 1925. The results are appended. However, these figures do not take into consideration the sums received directly from other sources. Hence the report is incomplete. Next month, if the editors will devote the necessary space to it, we shall show the receipts from all sources, grouped according to projects. Now a few words as to the report itself. In only one instance do the receipts exceed the appro- priation. In all others there are gaps of greater or less degree. There may be several reasons for the gaps. Possibly the collection has not been fin- ished in your congregation. Or it may be finished, and the money has not been remitted to your Dis- trict treasurer. There may even be a few places where the collection has not been started. What- ever the reason, there is a solution. All of the appropriations are equally important. They vary only in location and in the amount of money needed. So, no matter which operation has been assigned to your District or synod, it deserves your support. And we believe you will give it if you have not already done so. In any event, let us finish the task, so that these humble churches and schools can be erected and serve to spread the Gospel to an ever-increasing number of our colored brethren. The Children’s Collection. Project. Receipts. Goal. Mobile, Ala., church and school.... $5,500.00 Wisconsin Synod ..............$1,317.78 Pine Hill, Ala., church and school. . $1,000.00 California and Nevada District. $575.16 Ingomar, Ala., church and school. . $1,000.00 Northern: Nebraska District... .$1,054.32 Rosebud, Ala., church and school... $1,500.00 Alberta and British Columbia Districts Oo ecw eee ees $129.80 Manitoba and Saskatchewan Dis- trict cto 137.91 Ontario District ............... 176.06 $443.77 Selma, Ala., church and school..... $3,500.00 Kansas District ............... $1,340.92 Oklahoma District ............. 413.94 Texas District ................ , 647.38 $2,402.24 $20,000.00 Alabama Luther College, Selma, Ala. se veeeeee $1,278.86 * The Atlantic and Northern Illinois Districts have undertaken to finance chapels for Colored Missions in their midst. The offerings here recorded are special gifts apart from the Districts’ immediate objective. Atlantic District * ..