The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1896, Page 2

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

Epiphany in a Heathen Village. —

The festival called Epiphany, and occurring
in the church year on January 6th, says one of
our exchanges, is not as well known nor as
generally observed in our churches as its im-
portance and significance would warrant. The
great event which this festival commemorates
marks it as the Christmas festival of the
heathen. The wise men from the East, to
whom Christ, the Saviour of the world, was
manifested or revealed, were representatives
of the gentile world, as the adoring shepherds
were representatives of the Jewish race. Thus

we find illustrated and emphasized the angelic} to the altar.

The little church was decorated both-inside
and outside with flowers and garlands, thus
making a very festive appearance. And in
expectation of an unusually large attendance
the capacity of the chapel was enlarged by
building a large canopy in front of the en-
trance, in order to afford late-comers protec-
tion against the scorching rays of the sun.
Everybody within reach had been invited,
either personally or by-letter, to attend the
service, and when the time came the available
room was fully occupied.

After the sermon the offerings were gath-
ered, each person bringing his gift forward
Though the people, as a rule,

message that announced the birth of the Sav-| were poor, and there had been a considerable

jour as the em- .
‘bodiment and
source of joy ‘‘to
all people.” .
We, whose
forefathers cen-
turies ago
roamed amid the
_ darkness of
-heathen super-
stition and idol-
atry, ought to
take a keen in-
terest in the rey-
elation of Christ
to the gentiles ‘[§
‘and the promul-
gation of Chris-
tianity among
the heathen. To
treat the work of
missions with in-
difference and
apathy, as
though it were
of no concern to
us, does not be-
token either
‘breadth of view
and under-
standing, or fer-
_ vency of spirit. Those whose hearts have
been gladdened by the good tidings of great
joy which are meant for all people, will be
deeply interested in the advancement of the
kingdom of God in the dark places of the
earth, where are habitations of cruelty and
woe. We invite the attention of our readers
to a narrative of the observance of the Epiph-
any festival in a village of India.
The Christian congregation in Shagoti num-
bered about 107 souls. Epiphany was held
in the highest esteem among them, and, mind-
‘fallof the example of the magi “‘who opened
their treasures”’ and presented unto the Christ-
child their “‘gifts—gold, and frankincense,
‘and myrrh,’’ they are accustomed to bring
their offerings and lay them in the spirit of
‘thankful worshipers at the feet of Jesus.
We haye read a description of an Epiphany
“Service in this place somewhat as follows:

Ell

6 pmo 7
SEIN ED

Our Mission Chapel at Elon College, N. C.,

erected by the contributions of the pupils of our Lutheran Parochial Schools.

failure of crops, there was manifested great
readiness and cheerfulness in giving even of
their poverty to the Lord; and not a few of
the offerings represented acts of decided self-
denial and personal sacrifice. Those who
possessed any coin brought their offering in
money; others brought of the products of
their flocks or fields. Among the offerings
were sheep and goats and baskets of fruit
and grain. The total yalue of the contribu-
tion was about $15.

One of the goats that was brought was the
free-will offering of a man who, though once
& member of the congregation, had been ex-
pelled; and who was known to be miserly and
covetous. His child had fallen sick, and for
two weeks was not able to open an eye.
Graye fears were entertained that it would
lose its sight entirely. In his anxiety and
grief the father made a vow that, if the Lord

of heaven would preserve and restore his
child’s sight, he would, at the Epiphany serv-
ice, bring a goat as an offering to the Lord.
Not long after this the child enjoyed a good
night’s sleep and rest, and the next morning
its eyes were much better and soon were per-
fectly well. The father fulfilled his vow and
delivered the goat as his offering. It is to be
hoped that the visitation was further blest
unto the man’s repentance and spiritual re-

covery.
———_—»_- 0 =a ¢ -

Good Gold.

The Gifts of the wise men from the East
to the Royal Child Jesus were intended, in
the Providence
of God, to sup-
ply the wants of
this poor family,
to which the Sav-
iour, in His hu-
man nature, be-

longed ; - thus
they were really
a contribution to
the Kingdom of
God. It is our
duty to conse-
crate a part of
our property, all
of which is the
Lord’s(Ps.'24, 1;
1 Cor. 4, 7; 10,
26) to the same
cause, so that
while, on the one
hand, the poor
may be relieved,

on the other
hand pastorsand
teachers may be

sustained in
theirlabors,and,
in general, men

may be sent .
forth to preach
the Gospel (Rom. 10, 14. 15). Such contributions
are especially necessary, in order that young
men, who seem to be suited for the work, may
be trained for the ministry, so that our de-
scendants may also have well qualified pastors
and teachers, even as it is wise to raise young
fruit trees for the purpose of supplying the
place of those that are decayed, and of gen-
erally increasing the supply of wholesome

fruit. — Luther.
——_—2 6s 2

Teach Christ.

To Pastor Lauterbach, Luther said: “‘En-
deavor to preach God our Saviour, and care
not what the world will say of you. What
matter is it to me if people say I know not
how to preach? My only fear before God is
that I haye not spoken of His majesty and
Wondrous work as I ought.’”