The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1892, Page 22

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22 The Lutheran Pioneer.

Pray Without Ceasing.
1 Thess. 5, 17.

gress. We started with fourteen. Dropping
those who joined the Sunday-school at Christ-
mas-for the sake of the ‘‘loaves and fishes’’,
we still have eighty enrolled. ~ Catechumen
classes of both children and adults are being
prepared for confirmation. With an increased
attendance at our divine services—the ‘“‘store’’
is at times crowded with worshippers—the out-
look is brightening and the people are encour-
aged.

In Reimertown, eight miles from Concord,
we preach to a number of colored people every
Sunday morning and give catechetical instruc-
tions. ‘The only visible fruit of our labor so
far is that the people begin to listen. And
this is no small fruit. As the public school-
house, in which we have been worshipping dur-
ing winter, is both too dark and too small, we
shall be compelled to hold our services during
the summer months in the shade of trees, until
the chapel, that is to be built, is completed.
You shall hear more from this station later.

In Charlotte, a thriving city of 11,000 inha-
bitants, Rev. Phifer and wife are cénducting a
school, which is gradually being turned into
a mission school. The number of pupils en-
rolled during the last term was ninety. The
Sunday-school is somewhat smaller. The
building in which school and services are held
is an old uninviting structure belonging to the
colored Odd Fellows. A dozen persons have
in the course of time been confirmed, but as
these members seem to be of a nomadic turn,
no congregational organization has as yet been
effected. Besides serving a small congrega-
tion once a month in Davidson county, near
Lexington, Brother Phifer preaches occasion-
ally in Greenville, a small suburb of Char-
lotte.

Near Burlington the brethren Holt and Clapp
are serving small congregations. As we intend
to spend some time with these brethren in the
course of the summer, we shall have something
more to write then.

There are accordingly seven places in which
the great glorious Church of Reformation is
being planted among the colored people. All
these places are sadly in need of suitable build-
ings. he friends of our Mission—and they
are, thank God, increasing—haye generously
responded to the appeal for help from North
Carolina. But more is needed in order that
all may receive a little. Will not the readers
of the ‘‘Proneer”’ also help in the good
cause? ‘‘Little clusters help to fill the gar-
ners, too.’’

In the cause of the Master and as a mis-
sionary, the ‘‘Lurneran Pioneer”? is unmis-
takably doing much good. Here it is gener-
ally read and loyed by young and old. In the
country districts it passes from house to house,
and in the winter evenings is read aloud by
the open fire-place. May God richly reward
yeas Mr. Editor, for your untired disinterested
work. 5

Easter Monday 1892. Misstonary.

Letter from Concord, N. C.

Dear ProneeR :—The temporary transfer of
the pastor of the Mt. Zion and St. Paul Churches
at New Orleans to North Carolina, where a new
and unexpected addition was made to our col-
‘ored work, has been noted in these columns.
The parting from a people with whom the mis-
sionary’s life for so many years had been in-
timately connected, was not pleasant to flesh
and blood. Though belonging to two distinct
races, 2 mutual love had sprung up between
pastor and flock. The people of these churches
haye on several occasions, particularly on that
of the pastor’s removal, proved their love and

gratitude in word and deed, for which we once
more return grateful acknowledgment.

We have entered on a new field, among new
people and new surroundings. The new mis-
sion field has quite an extensive territory, em-
bracing quite a number of stations in various
parts of the state. For years a few colored
men with very limited training and qualifi-
cations for the ministerial office, because of
limited opportunities, have labored on these
stations. The work has been of a rather super-
ficial character, and the fruits, as may be
imagined, in proportion to it. A synodical
organization under the name of the ‘‘Alpha
Synod”’ was effected. But this step was un-
doubtedly both premature and unwise. Not
receiving the moral and financial support that
was promised and which it deserved, the min-
isters naturally became discouraged. And
when the presiding officer, Rev.J. W. Koonts,
died, the ‘‘Alpha Synod’’, as an organization,
died with him. Upon application of Rev. P.
W. Phifer, this gradually starving mission was
taken charge of by the Mission Board of the
Synodical Conference and has been under its
care since September last.

As Concord was considered to be the centre
of the field and one of fair promise for mis-
sionary work, we pitched our tent in this
pleasant littletown. Having gathered the few
scattered members that remained of a small
congregation, we set about to clear the old
grocery store, in which we hold our services,
of its rubbish, cracker-boxes, fragments of
old benches and great many other things, which
were no ornaments to a house of worship.
Broken window-panes were replaced by new.
Patent school-desks and an organ were fur-
nished by the Board, and while the old ‘‘store’’
is neither churchly nor comfortable, it is ha-

bitable.

With the opening of the parochial-school,
half a dozen children applied. It was a small:
beginning, but we are used to small beginnings
_ and do not despise them. Every week, how-
ever, as ittame, brought new scholars, until
the school at Christmas numbered forty. With
‘the opening year a boom was promised. It

“ A number of ministers were assembled for
the discussion of difficult questions, and among
others it was asked, how the command ‘to
pray without ceasing’’ could be complied with.
Various suppositions were started, and at
length one of the number was appointed to
write an essay upon it, to be read at the next
monthly meeting; which being overheard by
a female servant, she exclaimed, ‘What! a
whole month wanted to tell the meaning of
that text! It is one of the easiest and best
texts in the Bible.’’ ‘‘Well, well,’’ said an old
minister, ‘‘Mary, what can you say about it?
Let us know how you understand it; can you
pray all the time?’ ‘O yes, sir.”’ ‘*What!
when you have so many things todo?’ ‘*Why
sir, the more I have to do, the more I can
pray.”* ‘Indeed; well, Mary, do let us know
how it is; for most people think otherwise.”’
“Well, sir,’”’ said the girl, ‘‘when I first open
my eyes in the morning, I pray, Lord, open
the eyes of my understanding; and while I
am dressing, I pray, that I may be clothed
with the robe of righteousness; and as I be-
gin to work, I pray, that I may have strength
equal to my day. When I begin to kindle
the fire, I pray, that God’s work may revive
in my soul; and as I sweep the house, I pray,
that my heart may be cleansed from all its im-
purities; and while preparing and partaking
of breakfast, I desire to be fed with the hid-
den manna, and the sincere milk of the Word;
and as I am busy with the little children, I
look up to God as my Father and pray for the
Spirit of adoption, that I may be His child,
and so on all day; everything I do, furnishes
me with a thought for prayer.’ “Enough,
enough’’, cried the old divine, ‘‘these things
are revealed to babes, and often hid from the
wise and prudent.”? ‘Go on, Mary’’, said
he, ‘‘pray without ceasing; and as for us, my,
brethren, let us bless the Lord for this expo-
sition, and remember that He has said, “The
meek will He guide in judgment.’’’? The es-
say, as a matter of course, was not considered
necessary after this little event occurred.—
Arvine’s Cyclopedia.

———. oo ee

The Lord Bless my Pennies.

A little girl six years old was desirous of
putting her pennies into the missionary box
with others. When saying her evening prayers
at her papa’s knee she hesitated 2 moment,
and then added, ‘‘Lord, bless my two pennies
for Jesus’ sake. Amen.’ After the child had
gone to bed, her father asked his wife, ‘“‘What
made Gracie say that?’ ‘She has prayed
thus every night since giving her pennies to
the missionary box,” was the mother’s reply,
Do you, dear young reader, pray ‘‘God bless
my pennies’ when you give your mite to som
good object?

i the teacher low and the boom vanished. But
we have gradually recovered lost grounds.

ie

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