# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1927_S95
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

94 THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

gressing rapidly. Unless unexpected delays occur,
the dormitory will be ready for occupancy at the
opening of the new school-year.— We have been
informed that a preparatory department will be
opened again in the fall.

Golden Jubilee of Our Colored Missions. — The
Mission Board has decided that all the congrega-
tions of the Synodical Conference be asked to ob-
serve Sunday, October 16, as the jubilee of our
Negro Missions. It will be exactly fifty years on
that day that Rev. F. Doescher, the first missionary,
was set apart, in a solemn service, for his work
among the freedmen.— Appropriate programs for
the celebration will be worked out by a committee,
and we hope to be able to bring further particulars
in our next number. Pastors and teachers will find
all the historical material they need for sermons and
catechizations in the new history of our Colored
Missions written by Director C.F. Drewes. The
widest distribution of this new history is most
desirable and will do much to interest our people in
this work of our Church.

A Much-Needed Rest. — Director Drewes, whose
labors have been most strenuous during the past
year, has been granted a leave of absence for a
period of four to six weeks. We hope that at the
end of his vacation he will return with full physical
strength and vigor.

Salisbury, N.C.— Rey. C.R. March has asked
the PronErr to make public acknowledgment of the
receipt of a package of clothing for his people from
Mrs. Charles W. Appel, York, Pa.

Kannapolis, N. C.— Mount Calvary Church of

Salisbury has lost one of its oldest and most faith- _

ful members by the death of Mrs. Lucinda Long.
Mrs. Long had not always been a Lutheran, but in
‘her last illness she again and again expressed her
gratitude to God that He had permitted her to find
rest and peace for her soul in the Bible teachings
of our Church. Of special comfort to her during her
last illness were the frequent visits of her pastor and
the words of instruction and comfort he brought
her. Certain of her Savior’s love and the gracious
forgiveness of her sins through His atoning death,
she looked forward to her departure from this life
with a calm spirit and confident hope.

Back at Work.— We are sure that all our
Teaders will rejoice with us on hearing that Super-
intendent G. A. Schmidt has again taken up his
duties in Alabama. Read his fine sketch in this
number, and you will realize that he has the same
zeal and love for the work he always had.

Atmore, Ala.— The church at this place was
dedicated last month. Besides a chapel, with a seat-
ing capacity of 150, the building has two school-
rooms. This building is the gift of a friend of our
Colored Missions living in Brooklyn, N. Y.

What Came of a Little Thing. — Fifty years ago
the first Children’s Lenten Offering in the Episcopal
Church was organized in a small church in Penn-
sylvania by John Marston. During these fifty years
the total Church School Lenten Offerings of the
Episcopal Church have reached the sum of
$6,641,101.87. Last year the collections were almost
$500,000. One missionary dollar of every six in the
Episcopal Church comes from children. — The
thought has come to the writer whether we are mak-
ing the most of our opportunities with regard to
our children. If the 500,000 children in the Sunday-
schools of the Episcopal Church can gather $500,000:
during the Lenten season for missions, should not
the 250,000 children of our Christian day-schools.
and our Sunday-schools be able to do as much in the:
course of a year? Indeed, have not we a better and
a stronger appeal to our children than they? Would
we not have a wonderfully appealing object here for
cooperation ?

The Oldest School for Negroes in the United:
States. — Penn School, situated on St. Helena
Island off the coast of South Carolina, is the oldest.
school for Negroes in this country. It was begun
in 1862 and now has an enrolment of 275 pupils.
St. Helena Island has an area of seventy square:
miles and a population of 5,500. F.J.L.

Africa.

Africa is larger than the combined area of:
Europe, the United States, India, and China. In
fact, practically one-fourth of the earth’s surface is-
found in Africa. The coast line of Africa is as long”
as is the circumference of the whole earth, 25,000:
miles. Over twelve per cent. of the earth’s popula--
tion is in Africa; that is, just about every eighth:
person that lives on earth calls Africa his home.
The blacks of Africa double their number in about
forty years, while the whites double their number-
in about eighty years. Of the more than 800 lan-
guages and dialects spoken in Africa, only a very”
few have been reduced to writing. ,

If Africa were supplied with railroads in the-
same proportion as our country is, there would be-
more than a million miles of track, while now it
has only 25,000 miles. The Dark Continent is said: