The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1891, Page 48

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48

The Lutheran Pioneer.

and the church to ashes.’” This occurred at
Nicomedia in the third century. And while we
celebrate the birth of our Saviour with joy and
gladness during the festive Christmas season,
jt may increase our gratitude to God if we re-
member the sufferings of those early disciples
of our Lord, who could neither worship nor cele-
brate His birth except at the peril of persecu-
tion and death.

—Ar Christmas time the little people in Nor-
way, not content with giving presents among
themselves, provide a treat for the little brown
birdies which have not deserted them for a
warmer climate. Before the sun goes down,
these sturdy little North men and women put
on their wide snow-shoes, which look like little
boats, and muffle up in their warmest furs and
woollens. Their father goes to the barn and
brings out a generous sheaf of unthreshed grain
which is tied toa long pole. With many merry
shouts the children plant the pole firmly in the
snow just by the cottage gable, and before long
a greedy flock of little birds are hopping over
it, enjoying to the full their Christmas feast. It
is just the right sort of a Christmas tree for them,
and it does the children quite as much good. It
is a sweet lesson of thoughtful care for one of
the lowliest, gentlest of God’s creation. It is
a good sign for a boy and girl, when you see
them kind to animals. Birds soon learn where
they are welcome.

— One Christmas morning, little Annie, full
of her Christmas joy, wished to take old Mooly,
the cow, an extra Christmas breakfast. Yes,
Christmas is a season that moves the hearts of
men to deeds of kindness by which gladness
may be spread.

—In 1535, Luther’s youngest child, Margaret,
Jay in the cradle, and the mother was so busy
in her preparations for the great festival that
she could not give much attention to the in-
fant. The child then becoming restless, she
asked the Doctor to bring his book into the
nursery and rock the cradle, which he will-
ingly did, as an act of obedience to his ‘‘lord
Katie,”’ and of love for his child. As he looked
a while at his book and a while at the child,
his thoughts carried off to Bethlehem, and to
the shepherds watching their flocks, and to the
infant Christ; and he began, for the first time,
to sing his famoys Christmas hymn, ‘From
heaven above to earth I come.” °

—In the year 1538, Doctor Martin Luther
was very joyous, and all his sayings, songs and
thoughts were about the incarnation of Christ
our Saviour. And he said, with a deep sigh,

pero a “Ah! h tures, h Id]
‘Tae, jus’ tinking ef de Christmas crumbs that} and hanelek wai ereebithistarentiiey which. hey

fall from the Master's table in dis world am so| come to bless us! ‘This is the great act of benefi-
good, what will de great loaf in glory be?”? .| cence which far excels all other works of crea-

The Outlook from the Editor’s Window.

—TsE present number closes another volume
of the LurHeRAN Pioneer. We tender our
thanks to all that have helped us in the circu-
lation of our paper, and we earnestly ask their
continued and hearty co-operation. The next
volume begins in January, and this is a good
time to send in the names of new subscribers.
The names of many new subscribers would be
a welcome Christmas gift for our little PrloNEER,
It would make his eyes bright and his heart
glad in the merry Christmas time.

—Menrry Christmas! Why do we keep it
with so much joy and gladness? Is there a
little child anywhere who does not know that
it is the day when our dear Lord was born?
“Christ, the Prince of glory, slept on Mary’s
knee.’’ The whole beautiful story is familiar
to everyone of us, and the sweetest thing about
Christmas is that it belongs to everyone of us,
to the poorest as well as to the richest, for the
infant Jesus came to save the whole world.

— CurisTmas is a season in which Christians
gladly open their hearts and their purses. It is
a season of gifts. Let us not forget our Colored
mission! In North Carolina the good Lord has
opened to our missionary a wide field ripe unto
the harvest. But new buildings are needed in
which the people may gather for worship and
in which the children may be instructed. By
aiding our mission work you make known to
others the glad tidings of the Saviour born at
Bethlehem. When you distribute your gifts in
the merry Christmas season, do not forget our
Colored Mission Treasury.

—lIwn the month of November two faithful
servants of the Lord departed this life and en-
tered the joys of heaven—the Rev. G. Schiefer-
decker, of New Gehlenbeck, IJ]., and the Rev.
F. Koenig, of New York city. Both had grown
gray in the service of the Master and now re-
joice with a joy far greater than our Christ-
mas joy, in the presence of Him whom they so
heartily loved and to whom they s0 faithfully
pointed sinners for salvation. ‘They that turn
many to righteousness shall shine as the stars
for ever and ever.”’

—THAT was a good answer given by old uncle
Ned on Christmas-day. He was out in the gar-
den, singing songs of joy over the glad Christ-
mas news of a new-born Saviour. Some one
said to him, ‘‘You seem happy to-day, old
uncle!’’ ‘‘Yes, massa, I’se jus’ tinking,”’ said

‘uncle Ned. “What are you thinking of?”
asked the gentleman. ‘‘O,” said old uncle,

—Banrontus gives the following account of Hone ad. shallives0 feebly. per me

sung by the angels? (Heavenly theologians
and preachers, indeed!) And they have re-
joiced on our account, and their cong is verily
a glorious song, wherein is briefly enfolded the
sum of the whole Christian religion. Jor the
‘Glory to God in the highest,” is the highest
mora , and this they bring to us in this
rist.””

one of the earliest celebrations of Christmas of
which we have authentic record. He says:
“While the persecution raged under Diocle-
tian, the tyrant, finding multitudes of Christ-
_lans, young and old, met together to celebrate
‘Christ's birth, commanded the church-door to
be shut, and fire put in it, which reduced them

BOOK-TABLE.

Ha¥ A Century OF TRUE LUTHERANISM. A Brief
Sketch of the History of the Missouri Synod.
By A. Graebner, Professor in Concordia Seml-
naty, St. Louis, Mo. Published by Rey. J. A.
Friedrich, Chattanooga, Tenn.

This reprint from one of our American Reviews
is issued by Rey. Friedrich, with the consent of the
author, for the purpose of placing ‘‘into the hands
of those Lutherans who prefer to read English a
brief, correct, and interesting history of the Missourl
Synod, the price being so low as to be within the
reach of all.’?

The well-written and highly interesting pamphlet
deserves a wide circulation. Price, postage free,
single copies 15 cents; liberal discount will be given
on larger orders. Address Rev. J. A. Friedrich,
No. 18 State Str., Chattanooga, Tenn.

DER AMERIKANISCHE KALENDER FUER DEUTSCHE
LuTHERANER fuer das Jahr 1892. Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. Price 10 cents,

This well known German Lutheran Almanac has
made its appearance in its usual form and with a
variety of instructive reading matter, bringing also
a sketch of the missionary work carried on by the
sainted Professor Craemer among the Indians in
Michigan. This Almanac should be found in all
our German Lutheran homes.

Evangelical Lutheran Colored Churches,
New ORLEANS, La.

EV. LUTH. 8T. PAUL’S CHAPEL.
13 Annette Str., between Claiborne and Dirbigny
Divine services at 10 o’clock Sunday morning and at 734

o’clock Wednesday evening.
Sunday School from 2 to 4.

EV. LUTH. MT. ZION CHURCH.
Cor. Franklin and Thalia Strs.
Divine services at 7}4 Sunday evening and at 734 Thursday
sun‘ay Sekool meets at 9 o’clock.
Adult catechumen class meets at 7}4 Tuesday evening.
F. LANKENAU, Missionary.

EV. LUTH. TRINITY CHURCH.
Zimple Str., between Monroe and Leonidas.
CARROLLTON.

Divine services at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon and ,734
o’clock Wednesday evening. ~
Sunday School at 9 o’clock.

EY. LUTH. BETHLEHEM CHAPEL.
Cor. Washington Avenue and Dryades Str.
Divine services at 7% o’clock Sunday evening and at 73¢
o’clock Thursday evening.

Sunday School at 9 o’clock.
Ava. Buraporr, MissionaRyY.

St. Paul’s Colored Lutheran Church,
Cor. Rock & 12th Strs., Little Rock, Ark.
Divine service Sunday evening at 74 0’clock.
0—12

Sunday School from 7
Ci lumen class meets from 7—S8 Wednesday evening.

Ba
Singing-school from 8—9 Wednesday evening.

Ey. Luth. Holy Trinity Church,

Springfield, Mis.
Divine services at half past 10 o’clock Sunday morning
and at 8 o’clock Sunday evening.
Sunday School at 8 o’clock r. ».
Catechumen class meets Monday
Singing-school Tuesday evening.
H. S. KNABENSCHUM, Missionary.

and Friday evenings.

TERMS:

Tae LurHeraN Pronger is published monthly,
payable in advance at the following rates, postage
included, to-wit:

1 Copy
10 Copies
25

Club rates only allowe
to one address.

All business communications to be addressed to
“Concordia Publishing House,” St. Louis, Mo.

‘All communications concerning the editorial de-
partment to be addressed to Prof. R. A. BrscHorr,
Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind.

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