# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1930_S22 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 22 THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. We were very glad to have Director Drewes with us a few weeks ago. While here, the Director visited several classes and held a short meeting with the faculty. Christmas holidays began here December 20. Nevertheless all boarding students remained on the campus until December 24. During this time they cleaned the campus and buildings and attended, or participated in, the Christmas programs held on the campus. The programs were as follows: — On Sunday night, December 22, the Alabama Luther College Glee Club, under the direction of Mrs. H. Edwards, rendered a beautiful Christmas cantata. It was received very favorably. On Monday night, December 23, the Preparatory Department entertained with a truly Lutheran Christmas program. Indeed, it filled our hearts with joy and gladness to hear the children — our children — fearlessly and joyously repeat the wonderful message the angels proclaimed on Judea’s starry plains over nineteen hundred years ago: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” At the end, gifts were distributed and all returned home praising and glorifying God for giving us that most wonderful gift — His Son. We are asking all our colaborers and friends to pray that God would give us wisdom and knowledge, health and strength, to do faithfully and well the work He has entrusted to us. 0. G. Our Colored Mission in Buffalo. This mission-work has been carried on by the mis- sionaries' of the Institutional Missions of Buffalo for the past four years. During this time it has been under the fostering care of our Buffalo churches, and they are con- tinuing their support of this work. The supervision of the spiritual work of the mission has been transferred, however, to the Board of Directors of Institutional Missions. This is done on the basis of an arrangement made with the ‘Board for Colored Missions. ‘This board sub- Sidizes our mission to the extent of $75 a month, and in return the work of the colored mission is performed by our institutional missionaries, Rey. Edgar Pflug in immediate charge. The physical support of the colored mission, with the exception Rev. E. R. Pflug. of the above-mentioned salary, is still supplied by local Lutheran churches functioning through the joint boards. A few statistics on the progress of this mission will serve to indicate how God has blessed this enter- prise. These figures are taken from a recent annual report, which discloses that, while at the beginning of the fiscal year the mission numbered 15 people, it had by the end of the year doubled its member- ship of baptized and confirmed members. At the present time the membership numbers about 40. Sixty-services were conducted during the year, with an average attendance of 21 people at each service; 9 children were baptized and 5 adults confirmed ; 3 bodies were given Christian burial. Among the educational activities of the mission the Sunday-school takes first rank. At the present time the average attendance at the Sunday-school is about 32 children at every session. Some 55, however, are on the roll of active pupils. The cradle roll numbers 18. The school is fully graded and does most ex- cellent work. Visitors are always welcome. The Saturday-school of the mission provides religious training every Saturday of the year with the exception of the summer months. Last year 26 children were enrolled. Vacation-school is conducted during the month of July. During the past year this attracted 28 children. 25 Bible classes for adults were conducted on Wednesday evenings, and 19 periods of cate- chetical instruction were given children. During the past year the subject of a chapel suitable for the mission has been agitated. While the stage of negotiations is not yet passed, it seems certain that eventually our dreams of a real house of worship will be realized. It is quite certain that the mission cannot hope for spiritual progress until more adequate facilities for worship are provided. All friends of the mission are hoping and praying that God may soon bless us with this much-needed chapel. H. F. Winp. A Good Start for a New Year. “Happy New Year!” and a cordial “Same to you!” was right in order when the brethren of the Northern Conference assembled at St. Philips, Cleveland, 0., on January 2 for a two-day session. It was a small body indeed, an insignificant com- pany of some six men, who met, but the benefits derived can never be estimated. As one brother put