The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1880, Page 48

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48

The Lutheran Pioneer.

that, since my last letter, our school has been
divided into three departments; the Primary
in charge of Mrs. Reed—the Intermediate in
charge of Mr. Jeske—the Grammar in charge
of myself. The last named, being formed of
the most advanced pupils of the school, is de-
signed to furnish—at some future time—the
teachers and preachers for our mission-work in
the South. At the same time this department
will give to all bright and industrious pupils of
our school a chance for a thorough education,
to fit them for active life. As yet it is only a
trial, but has been successful and promises well.
At the same time it does not impose too heavy
labors upon myself nor take up too much of my
time, so as to prevent me from giving attention
to my other duties. It was considered neces-
sary for many reasons that German be studied
by the class. I have been surprised by the
aptness with which they learn to read from the
German Primer, being now able, after but two
months of study, to read several German hymns
fluently. —The other departments are equally as
prosperous. The new year has brought us many
new pupils of all ages and we expect many
more in a short time. All in all we are satis-
fied with the results so far.—May God continue
to bless our labors as heretofore.—

Necessity obliged us to divide the Sunday-
school into two divisions; the lower meeting in
the forenoon and the other in the afternoon of
every Sunday. Mr. Jeske controls the former
and the latter is under my personal care.
Each division now consists of about 80 scholars.
The average attendance on Sunday is very good.

I have 4 accessions to the church, three con-

firmations, three baptisms of adults and four of|and will also bring a picture now and then.
children to report for November and December | Those of our friends who will help to increase

1879. What the new year will bring in in-
crease or loss we do not know. But, thank
God, we have every reason to hope for rich
blessing upon our work, and none to feel dis-
snug Tee much about our mission at this
place.

Among the items of southern news there is
to be mentioned, that the German Luth. church
at Memphis, Tenn., has at last succeeded in
obtaining a pastor, who is already at work. A
missionary to take charge of our mission at
New Orleans has not been secured up to present
writing.—-Rey. Li. Wahl, now temporarily re-
siding at Little Rock, will go to Mobile, Ala.,
in spring, to oan on the mission begun there

v. J. F. Doescher.—Mr. C. D. Mark-
worth, one of the first teachers in our mission
Sunday-school, after its organization in Fletch-
er’s Hall, left Little Rock for Sheboygan, Wis.,
to take charge of a parochial school there. He
was acting superintendent when the Sunday-
school was placed in my charge. ‘The first
Lutheran Christmas tree for colored children
was decorated by him in 1877, and his valuable
aid contributed greatly to make the Christmas
festival of 1878 a success. For several months
aipresided at the organ in our chapel. May

bless him for all these generous acts.—

Fhongh I might write much more, yet I
defer, thinking that I haye already taken up
too much space. Next month you will hear
again from MISSIONARY.

(We are glad to hear from our Missionary
that there were two scholars in our school at
Little Rock who learned Luther's Christmas
Carol well enough to get the present. We
have also been informed that Emma Ward, in
Port Huron, Mich., learned the hymn perfectly
and recited it on Christmas day hefure the
English Lutheran congregation of that place.

‘The girls seem to learn better than the boys. | had bee

_ How is that?—eprror.) -- -

whether he would retract what he had written,
he asked time for consideration, since it was a
question of faith involving his own salvation
and the authority of God’s Word. He there-
fore wished to return such an answer as would
neither do harm to the Word of God, nor en-
danger his own salvation. So time was granted
him until the next day, and he was taken back
to his hotel.

At 4 o'clock, on the afternoon of the follow-
ing day, Luther was again brought before the
Diet to give answer to the question whether he
would retract what he had written. He gave
his answer in very respectful language and
manner, but with great firmness. Ina speech,
which lasted two hours, he showed what was
contained in his books, and said that if an
one would prove from the Bible that he erred,
he would retract every error, and would be the
first one to throw his books into the fire. At
the close of his long speech Luther was quite
exhausted and overcome by the heat of the
crowded room. But the Emperor did not fully
understand the German, and therefore wished
Luther to repeat his speech in Latin. A
friendly Knight, who stood near him, said: ‘‘It
you are unable to do it, Doctor, it is enough.’’
But Luther quickly recovered himself, and re-
peated all his words in Latin. He was then
told to simply answer the question whether or
not he would retract his doctrines. Luther
now said: Since your most serene Majesty and
your high Mightinesses require from me a clear,
simple and precise answer, I will give you one
with neither horns nor teeth, and it is this:
unless I am convinced by the testimony of the
Word of God, or by clear and overpowering
reasons, as I cannot submit my faith to the
pope nor to the councils, which have often
erred and contradicted themselves; and as I am
bound in conscience by God’s Word, I cannot
and will not retract anything, for it is neither
safe nor right to do anything against con-
science.’ And then, with great force, and
looking up toward heaven, he spoke those
memorable words: ‘‘HERE I STAND; I CANNOT
DO OTHERWISE; GOD HELP ME! AMEN.”’

Thus the hero of God’s truth had given his
answer, and he was now led away by two men.
His friends thought that he was to be taken to
prison, and were greatly excited; but Luther
told them that the two officers were only leadin
him to his hotel. Some of his enemies followe
him_to the hotel with loud sneers and hisses;
but Luther was so bold and joyful in the Lord
that he said to his friends: ‘If I had a thou-
sand heads I would rather have them taken
from my body than retract.”’

The powerful speech of Luther, so full of
faith, had made a deep impression on the whole
assembly, and many were gained for him and
his cause. The pope's people, however, were
raving mad, and urged the Emperor to take
back his promise of safe conduct, which he had
given Luther. But the Emperor would not
break his promise. He ordered Luther to go
back home, protected by his safe conduct,
within 21 days.

On the 26th of April, 1521, Luther left the
city of Worms and started on his way home. _

The Pioneers. Money - Box.

= zo Ny k,
wacelved Hie our mission from N. Madsen, New parm
TERMS:

Tre Lutneran Pronerr is published
payable in adyance at the following rates,

included, to-wit:

To the Friends of the ‘Pioneer’.

The present number closes the first volume
of our paper. Our work has been done in
much weakness, but we hope the Lord has been
pleased to own it for the comfort and instruction
of some.. We give thanks to all that assisted
us by their contributions, and we hope others
will follow their good example. We do not
know yet whether the subscription list is large
enough to pay the expenses for paper and
printing; but we know that if God needs, our
PrIonEER, He will raise up friends to carry it
forward to the accomplishment of its mission.
If He does not need it, gladly, very gladly will
we retire into silence. Those that do not wish
to have the paper another year will please
write to our agent at St. Louis. In the past
year we have gladly sent all orders for the
paper to our Publishing House; but in the last
few days we have found out that it is not very
pleasant for an editor to receive postal cards
with the order ‘‘Stop the paper’’, or, ‘I don’t
want that paper another year’’, and then to
pay the postage out of his own pocket and send
such an order to the right place. It seemed to
us as if our dear little PlonEER was coming back
home, his little blue eyes filled with tears, be-
cause people send him away so roughly; and
we are very “‘soft-hearted’’, yes, and therefore
please remember that all business communica-
tions are to be addressed to ‘‘Luth. Concordia
Publishing House, M. C. Barthel, Agt., St.
Louis, Mo.”’

In our next volume our little Pioneer will
continue to speak his simple words for Jesus,

the circulation of our little monthly will render
a service unto the Master.

—s- +o o> oe
The Life of Dr. Martin Luther.

XI.
LuTHER AT THE Diet.

It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The
Marshal of the Empire came to lead Luther to
the hall where the Diet was assembled. The
streets were crowded with people; many even
climbed to the tops of the houses, in order to
see Luther. It heing impossible to get through
the crowded streets, he had to be taken through
private houses and gardens, in order to reach
the hall. When he was about to enter the
hall, an old General laid his hand on Luther’s
shoulder and said: “My poor monk, my poor
monk, you have now a march and astruggle to
go through such as neither I nor many other
captains have seen the like in our hardest
battles. But if you have the truth and are sure
of it, go forward in God’s name, and fear
nothing; God will not forsake you!”? The-door
was opened, Luther stepped into the hall, he
stood hefore the mighty men of the earth.
There sat the mighty Emperor, and the princes,
and the dukes, and the pope's messenger, and
many others of high rank. There Luther
stood, the peasant’s son, the poor monk, calm
and full of peace, mighty in the Lord, the
messenger of God’s eternal Truth. About five
thousand persons were gathered in front of the
hall and at the windows.

Luther was first asked whether the books,
which lay upon a bench, had been written hy
him, an then whether he was willing to re-
tract, that is, ‘take hack” the doctrines con-

monthly,
postage

tained in them. After the titles of the books 1 Copy: i
Ee been read, he said the books were his. rt) us 00
en the question was again put to him 2 .00