# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1925_S169 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 169 to the attention of the City Missionary. On his daily rounds through the institutions he finds many people who have never belonged to a church or have drifted far from its sanctifying folds. Daily visits and kind admonition usually lead them to some sense of whither they are drifting, and by the time they are ready to leave the institution the seed of the reviving Word has taken root in them. But it cannot grow unless it is cared for, watered, nour- ished, and encouraged. The weeds of temptation and evil companionship will soon spring up around them, and if they are left to themselves, the tender shoot will again be choked and strangled. How necessary, therefore, that such struggling souls re- ceive all possible attention and assistance! And here these ladies of the Deaconess Associa- tion step in and do some real missionary work. They visit such people, call on them in their homes, call for them on Sunday mornings, even if they must go out of their way to do so, and try to get them acquainted with other members of the church ; in short, they do all they can to lead them into the fold of the Chief Shepherd. Every month,-at the meetings of the Association, they report on the cases which have been assigned to them. And these re- ports are interesting indeed. Many a man and many a woman, many a boy and many a girl, have thus been plucked away from the brink of ruin. And these deaconesses are learning to know what blessed and satisfying work it is to gain souls for the Savior. In seeking to strengthen others, they are themselves being fortified in their faith and in their loyalty to the Church. Now, you who read this, do we still hear you idly saying: “There is nothing I can do,” while the souls of men are dying and the Master calls for you? Take the task He gives you gladly, let His work your pleasure be; answer quickly when He calleth: “Here am I; send me, send me.” Attend the next meeting of the Association or communicate with the president: Miss Dorothea Bishof, 65 Adams, Berea, O., and become a volun- teer Inner Mission worker. The Lord needs you. Will you heed His call? Wanted! ‘Lutheran young ladies, eighteen to thirty-five years of age, to enroll in our nurses’ training school at our fine Lutheran Hospital. Prospective pupils please communicate with Superintendent of Nurses, Lutheran Hospital, 2609° Franklin Ave., Cleve- land, O., or with the City Missionary. Wanted! Lutheran singers for our services in the institu- tions. Solo, duet, quartet, or chorus. Please com- municate with Miss Clara Hill, Lincoln 1684 W. Wanted! Lutheran parents to be the recipients of great joy in adopting a little child in Jesus’ name and giving it a Christian home, love, and training. Call Eddy 8301 J. Wanted! Lutheran workers to loan unto the Lord some of their savings. Loans used to help small missions -will be returned to you on demand when you are in need. Safer than any bank. See Mr. A. De Beauclair. Wanted! Lutheran young people as well as old to join our party of carolers. If you wish to be happy, make others happy by bringing them cheerful Christmas and Easter songs. Ask our cheerful director, Mr. F. W. Strieter. Wanted! Lutheran families to help the hospice work among our own. Have you a room or more to place at the disposal of the Hospice Board? Phone Eddy 8301 J. F.J.L. The Thaipusam Festival of Southern India. The Thaipusam festival celebrates the appear- ance of the Hindu god Subernanium to his de- votees. The ceremonies last two days. On the evening of the first day the procession of the Silver Car takes place. The car is very ornate, made of silver and studded with jewels, and is drawn by two white oxen, with horns highly polished and tipped with gold ornaments. It proceeds slowly through all the principal streets of the city and is followed by thousands of Tamil Hindus. In front of it go four dancing figures, two men and two women, like the big figures in an American circus, with men inside to make them appear to walk and dance. These figures are very crude and vulgar in outline. ‘The heat from the torches, the odor of the incense, and the reeking bodies of the dancers are all very repulsive. The next day the horrible tortures begin which these ignorant people go through in the name of religion. We went to the temple early in the morn- ing to watch them get ready for the day’s proces- sion. In every available space were the brass vessels