The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1895, Page 6

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

6 The Lutheran Pioneer.

what is written that he has eternal life. He
does not know it from his feelings, or from
his good works, or from the performance of
his religious duties. No! He knows it from
what is written. The Word of God alone gives
him the assurance of salvation. Those that
seek this assurance in their feelings or in any-
thing outside of the Word of God, will seek in
vain. In the Word of God alone the sinner
finds-the Saviour, and in the Word of God
alone he will find the assurance of salvation

through faith in that Saviour. That word is
brought. to him in the Bible, that word is
preached to him, that word is applied to him
in the holy sacraments, on that sure and eter-
nal Word of God he rests his soul’s salvation
and thus enjoys the happiness of the true
children of God.

44 20

A Letter.

also testify, a bitter enemy of our Church,
and she did all in her pewer to draw her
niece away from us by means of coaxing and
threats. Though not living in this city, yet
she frequently visited here, and whenever she
came she tried her best, as she herself says,
to bring back her niece to the Roman Church.
But thanks be to God, she did not succeed.
On the contrary, her niece became a tool in
God’s hands to bring her to the true doctrine.
It came about in this way: This lady’s hus-
band, who was as. bitterly opposed to us as
his wife, came to the city some months ago.
While here, several copies of the Pioneer fell
into his hands and he read them through, not
noticing that they were Lutheran papers. As
Isay, he read the copies he found on the table
and then—asked for more. They were fur-
nished him with the remark that they were
Lutheran papers. But that did not seem to
trouble him at all, he read on. That night
was church, and though he was suffering from
a severe attack of tooth-ache, he bandaged up
his face and went. He was much pleased with
the services and could not speak enough of
how nice he had found everything, and how
different from what he had expected. The
next morning he went home, but not until he
had packed every Pioneer he could find and
a Small Catechism into his valise. And what
grand success these Pioneers had on their
little trip into the country, you may see from
the letter. May the little fellow make yet
many such successful trips is the wish of his
fellow-missionary F. J. L.

———_0 + ~<a o -

Colored Mission in Charlotte, N.C.

Christmas night St. Paul’s was crowded;
there were three hundred or more present. Our
subject was: ‘‘The Saviour is born.’’ After
speaking of the great gift of God to man, the
gifts for the children and adults were given
out; some hundred and fifty hearts were made
glad. Many said of our services: ‘“The Christ-
mas services at the Lutheran Church were the
best in the city.’’ The tree was beautifully
decorated. Articles of clothing were given to
the poor members, for which we thank Rev.
C. F. Hartmann and congregation. May God
bless the givers.

The industrial department of our school is
getting along nicely. Mrs. Phifer is teaching
the girls to sew and they are doing well. If
any friends have scraps of clothing or anything
in that line, Mrs. Phifer would be glad to re-
ceive help in that way.
; W. P. Puirer,

511 E. 2d Str:, Charlotte, N. C.

Christmas Celebration at Greensboro, N. C.

Dear Pioneer : — Several weeks ago one of
my members, after services, handed me the
following letter, saying: ‘‘Pastor, my aunt
sent me this letter and in it asks me to beg

" you to forgive her for all the bad things she
- has said about our Church.”” -
-Here is the letter first, and afterward I shall
tell you how it all came about: —

No doubt the worthy reader of Tur PIONEER
will be somewhat surprised on hearing that
such a small town as Greensboro has had the
pleasure of celebrating Christmas in a grand
old German Lutheran style so very well known
by Lutherans.

At 7.30 rv... Christmas-eve our celebration
began; but long before seven o’clock a vast
crowd of people from all directions had as-
sembled before the door of the hall which we
use as church and school (as we have none of
our own), waiting with great curiosity to see
how the Lutherans celebrate Christmas. At
seven o’clock sharp, the door was opened, and
the large number of people standing outside
now entered the ‘‘hall,’’ expressing their as-
tonishment at our Christmas-tree which seemed
to be something new in this town. From some
who were present one could hear such ex-
clamations as: ‘‘What a pretty tree! I have
never seen such a beautiful Christmas-tree in
my life!’’? In short, all was excitement and
surprise on beholding that significant tree
which reminded one of the Tree of Life,
namely, Jesus Christ, whom we had assembled
to adore and praise.

Notwithstanding the throng of visitors, num-
bering from 150 to 175, that had come to wit-
ness our celebration, very good order was kept
throughout the entire service. The Rev. John
C. Schmidt having offered a prayer suitable
for the occasion, a hymn was sung, after which
the undersigned questioned the school chil- -
dren regarding the prophecies of the Old Tes-
tament relating to the coming Messiah. To
hear the children give prompt and correct
answers to all the questions put to them was
& joy not only to the pastor and teacher, but
also to all who were present. That the answers
given by the children made a great impression
upon the audience was proved by the fact that
even those who had been known as our sworn
enemies had to confess that we are doing 2

- Dear ——: I am far from well; indeed,
I have been confined to my sofa for some
weeks past and haye enjoyed no amusements
but.such as your Pioneers have given me.
Tam sorry that I have tried to get you-to quit
your troe Church. Iam glad you did not take
my advice. ‘ell your pastor what a bitter
enemy I was of the Lutheran Church. I beg

_ him to forgive me and pray for me. I wish I
could see him. I wish he was here and put
his hand on my head and blessed me as Jesus
did little children of old. I would like him to
give me Holy Communion before I fall asleep.
Zam not afraid to die now. Iam willing to
go and rest with Jesus like good Dr. Luther.

| The. good Pronzer has granted me such
| > wisdom and such strength, that I can triumph

» over all temptations. It delivered me from
all evils which have oppressed me. —— —

New I am willing to die. Now I am not
‘afraid, though I am what the world calls
ruined. Ask your pastor to pray for me.
Beg him to forget my evil talks. Dear ——,

_ keep your faith, it is the best on earth. I have

| ‘foundit out. I advised my husband, and all

my children, friends and relatives to believe
in the Lutheran faith, in which I am going
to die.

Tam impatiently awaiting the answer.

Lam ever your true Lutheran fellowman

seit a Ae bal a

Dear Pioneer: >—-It has been some time
since the Church has heard of our work in
Charlotte, N.C. We are glad to say to the
many readers of the Pioneer and friends to
the negro work that we have been blessed be-
yond expectation, yet there is much room for
improvement.

The year 1894 with all its joys and sorrows
is a thing of the past. As we look back, we
must confess that we have not attended to
Sunday school and church as we should haye
done. Some have failed to let their light shine.
May God help missionary and members to be
more active in ’95.

Our work has grown in every department.
Sunday school average attendance was 75 the
yearround. Day school has ayeraged 50 since
Noyember. Church attendance has been 45 the
year round. So you see the Lord is blessing
our feeble efforts here. I trust many of the
readers of the dear PionEER have given some-
thing to this worthy cause, and hope the friends
of the negro mission of the Church in the South
will’ send in their money to the Hon. Board,
that the good work may not stop. Churches
and schoolhouses are badly needed. The doors
of North Carolina are open and people are éry-
ing: ‘*Come, help us, we have been led by the
blind long enough.’”

Such is the letter, and I know it must make
all who read it rejoice with the little Pioxzer,

was, as she states, and as I can