The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1886, Page 46

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46

‘Lhe Lutheran Pioneer.

Letter from New Orleans.

Dear PIoNEER:—

True Lutherans wherever found will always
gratefully remember the day on which Luther
nailed his 95 immortal theses upon the door of
the Castle Church at Wittenberg, thereby strik-
ing the keynote of the Reformation. The ben-
efits which resulted to the church and the world
through his conflicts with errors and his in-
flexible testimonies for the truth are so many
that we should be guilty of the blackest in-
gratitude towards God would we not thank-
fully remember them. That we have Bibles
in our homes and can read them, that the sav-
ing Word of God is put into our and our chil-
dren’s hands, that we have churches in which
we may worship God as his Word directs, that
we have christian schools in charge of christian
educated teachers, that we have civil and relig-
ious liberty, free to think, speak, and act as
free men and women in a free country without
fear of molestation, these are some of
the numerous blessings bestowed upon us
through the work of Reformation. It is
meet, therefore, that we should gratefully
remember it.

In order that the Colored people, too,
to a great portion of which that mighty
movement is still a thing unknown, might
learn to know, appreciate, and thank God
for the mercy and the blessings conferred,
our Colored congregations in this city
made arrangements to celebrate the Ref-
ormation Day in a befitting manner.

The children’s services in the morning
were well attended and the ‘“‘A mighty
fortress is our God,”’ which the numerous
little mouths poured forth from cheerful
hearts, was very effective. This together
with the prompt answers they gave to
questions propounded to them concerning
Lutherand the Reformation gave evidence
that the work of the great Reformer was both
understood and appreciated.

Our churches were, of course, put in festive
attire, aud were as attractive and inviting as
possible, the Trinity church of Carollton espe-
cially so. Here children vied with each other
in gathering flowers and evergreens, which
pastor and teacher by the assistance of kind
- friends put into wreaths and garlands and ar-
ranged them on the altar, pulpit, and walls to
the best udvantage. The new carpet and
window-shades, a present from the Sunday
School, added to its attractiveness. As early
as 6 oclock, long before the appointed hour
for service, the street in front of the church
was lined with worshippers, and a boy was
dispatched to the pastor's residence with the
message: ‘‘ They are all there ‘waitin.’”’ At
the opening of services every available seat was
taken, so that only standing places could be

forded to late comers. Pastor Burgdorf
preached on Luke 1, 68.: ‘‘Blessed be the
ord God of Ierael; for he hath visited and
deemed his people.”” He had chosen as his

|

| theme: The praiseworthy redemption of God’s
people through the work of the Reformation,
showing firstly what necessitated a redemption
of God’s people, and secondly, the manner in
which the Reformation and with it the redemp-
tion of God’s people was accomplished. From
this sermon the Colored people of Carollton,
for the first time, perhaps, were set aright re-
garding the abominable errors and shameful
abuses which everywhere prevailed at the
time Luther shut the mouth of the flippant
Tetzel; but they learned also, how darkness
and errors had to give place to the shining

light of Gospel truths which Luther preached,
and yield to the mighty sword which Luther
wielded. The children added their share to
the edification of the audience by their beauti-
ful and effective rendering of the Anthems:
‘We love the church, the holy church,’’ and

‘The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ,
the Lord.’”’ .
The attendance of St. Paul’s Chapel on Re-

“I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David,

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”’

formation Day may be judged from the fact,
that a few returned home because there was
no room. A sorry thing, indeed. It was pain-
ful, too, to note the difficulty and the trouble
people had to work their way or rather to
squeeze themselves in among the school-benches
and how small the children had to make them-
selves in order to give place to some late com-
panion on their already overcrowded seats.
The presentation of the ‘‘Come, thou almighty
King”? by the ‘‘Ladies Choir’? was a fair
tribute to the Day. :

Mt. Zion Church, the largest of our Colored
churches, could have accommodated a great
many more hearers; the audience, however,
was larger, than any previous gathering on Re-
formation Day. The pastor of these congre-
gations based his discourse on the words of
Gamaliel: ‘‘And now I say unto you, Refrain
from these men and let them alone; for if this
counsel or. this work be of men, it will come to
naught. But if it be of God, ye cannot over-
throw it, lest haply ye be found even to fight
against God.” (Acts 5, 88. 39.) He showed

that the Reformation of the Church was God’s
work, firstly from the divine nature of the
work, secondly from the eminent fitness of the
instrument chosen, and thirdly from the glo-
rious victory gained. ‘‘He leadeth me,” was
rendered beautifully by a select choir of chil-
dren. The collection taken up in the churches
and Sunday Schools for the benefit of the new
station amounted to somewhat over $10.00.

May God help us to stand fast in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free and to con-
tinue to contend for the faith once delivered
to the saints.

New Orleans, La., Nov. 15, 1886.

MIssIonary.

—_—~>. ez o>

The Christmas Lesson.
By Dr. Martin Luther.

Here we see the great and wonderful work
of God, that for the sake of poor, wretched
humanity, He lets His only begotten Son
take upon Him human nature and become
true man, and as such endure all weak-
ness and misery, nay, take upon Him
even our sins, though without sin Him-
self, and become a sacrifice for them, in
order that we might learn to thank and
praise God for this great benefit, that we
poor, wretched, nay even condemned men,
today attain to such great honor of be-
coming one flesh and blood with the Son
of God. For the very eternal Son of the
eternal Father, through whom heaven
and earth were created out of nothing,
He, as we hear, became man, was born
into the world like us, except that in Him
there never was any sin. Therefore we
may now boast that God has become our
brother, nay, our flesh and blood. This
great honor was conferred, not upon the
angels, but upon us men. And although
the angels are more glorious creatures than we
are, yet God has honored us more highly, and
come nearer to us than to the angels, since He
became not an angel, but man. Now if we men
would properly think of this, and heartily be-
lieve it, this inexpressible grace and benefit of
our heavenly Father would cause us great joy,
and impel us to thank God from our hearts, to
love Him, and willingly submit to His will.

Therefore we should well learn, and ear-
nestly consider, first, what honor was con-
ferred upon us, in that Christ, the Son of
God, became man. For it is such an honor,
that if one were angel, he might wish he were
2 man, in order that he might boast: My flesh
and blood are exalted above all angels. Where-
fore we men ought truly to count ourselves
blessed. God grant that we may understand
it, take it to heart, and thank Him for it. In
the second place, we should diligently look
upon the example of Christ, what He, who is
Lord of all lords, in His first advent to us poor
men, did and suffered for our sake. This would

induce and impel us, from our hearts algo will-.

ingly to help and serve other people, even
though it required great self-denial, and we
shoul? on their account, have to suffer. To
this may God help us by His Hol
through our dear Lord Jesus Christ,

Spirit,
men!

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