The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1900, Page 32

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32

The Lutheran Pioneer.

The Outlook from the Editor’s Window.

Our colored Lutherans at Salisbury, N. C.,
recently received a beautiful bell as a gift from
the Rey. A. E. Frey and some members of his
congregation at Brooklyn, N. Y. It is need-
less to say that the gift is appreciated. May
many follow the call of the bell to listen to the
preaching of the pure Gospel.

An exchange gives the following as the work-
ing force in China: ‘‘Statistics as recent and
trustworthy as we can obtain report the num-
ber of societies operating there as forty-four,
with a force of 1324 foreign missionaries and
4149 native agents. As these figures were pre-
pared several years ago, it is probable that
the number of churches then reported, 706,
has been largely increased, while conservative
judges estimate the present number of com-
municants in the various Protestant churches
as well on toward 100,000.’? — May God sus-
tain His own in the troubles and persecution
that are at present raging in China.

Many mission stations have been destroyed
and many Christian converts have been put to
death in China. A missionary reports:

‘tThe death of the catechist Nan-Kuensie,
of the village of Mantchouan, was edifying.
He was stripped of his clothes, beaten, and
bound. He was then questioned: -

*¢Are you a Christian?’

eeeYes, I am.’

‘At this reply one ear was cut off.

‘¢Are you still a Christian?’

‘Yes, I am a follower of Christ.’

“The other ear was then seyered. The vic-
tim’s third declaration of his Christianity was
his death sentence. <A stroke of the sword
severing his head from his body, placed him
in the ranks of the martyrs.”’

Our Lord says: ‘‘Be thou faithful unto death
and I will give thee a crown of life.”’

RecentLy Admiral Watson, of our American
navy, bore witness to the truth as it is in Jesus
in the presence of 30Q Japanese in Tokio and
made a prdfound impression. He closed his
address by saying: ‘‘Iamanold man. I have
had many pleasures. I have attained the high-
est place possible for me to attain in the navy
of my country, but I wish to testify before
you that it is my hope in Jesus Christ my Sa-
viour which I prize above all else and which
sustains me in all Ido.’’ Christian testimony
from such sources will do more to protect mis-
sionaries and their labors than all the guns of
the navy and army combined.

Tue literary superintendent of the British
and Foreign Bible Society, has just made a

_ summary of the languages and dialects in

which the Bible is printed in Africa. One hun-
dred years ago the scriptures were printed in
three languages— Coptic, Ethiopic, and Ara-
bie ; now Mr. Darlow states that portions of

the Bible have already been printed in no fewer
than 101 languages and dialects of Africa.
The complete Bibel exists in fifteen African
languages, and of these twelve have heen is-
sued by the Society.

Tue Hermannsburg stations in Transvaal
are reported almost ruined and wiped out of
existence by the war. The victorious army of
the oppressors is compared to a steam street
roller. The oldest of the missionaries, William
Behrens, the founder of the flourishing Be-
chuana mission, died of a broken heart. Two
other missionaries died also, and an alarmingly
large number of Hermannsburgers are seri-
ously ill.

Tue Rey. Dr. Paton, missionary to the New
Hebrides, recently preached in New York city.
In the early days in the Islands, he said, sev-
eral missionaries were killed by the savages,
and when he went there the population was
still almost wholly composed of cannibals.
Now there are 18,000 who are classed as con-
verts, and 3000 full members of the church.
‘*Those people,’”’ he said, ‘‘really shame us in
many so-called Christian Jands by the fervency
of their devotion. I do not believe there is a
single family in our church there that does not
haye family worship morning and night.’

Curistian children on the Hawaii Islands,
says the Christian ‘Youth, have collected
$10,000 with which to begin a mission on Min-
danao, one of the Philippine islands. It is not
so very long since Hawaii was populated by
heathen cannibals. Notice here the progress
of the kingdom of God. The heathen of
yesterday is a missionary to-day. The king-
dom of God is indeed like a mustard seed, in-
significant in its beginning, yet magnificent
and glorious in its development.

A Heatuen Hinvv recently asked one of
his countrymen, who had become a Christian,
what medicine or cosmetic he was using that
made his face shine so brightly. ‘‘I have never
yet used anything in the line of medicine to
brighten up my face,’’ was the Christian’s
reply. ‘*You certainly must use something;
for you Christians seem’ to have some secret
medicine that acts like a charm and beautifies
your faces,’’ replied his friend. ‘The Chris-
tian smiled at the heathen’s persistence, giving
his face a brighter expression than ever, and
then said: ‘‘I will tell you the secret. It is
the Word of life that gives our faces this ap-
pearance. The light of our countenance is but
the reflection of an inner peace and joy which
our religion teaches us.”

Ir is noticeable that the grace of giving is
among the first fruits to appear in the lives of
converted heathen. At a mission Conference
held at Eufaula, I. T., in response to an ap-
peal for funds, a collection of $380 was taken
from a congregation numbering not over 300.
Many of the Indians gave all the money they

had with them, while the Indian girls took off
their bracelets and other jewelry, and threw
them into the baskets. Grateful for receiving
the Gospel themselves, they were eager to pay
for sending it to the pagans of other countries.

Presipent Pau Kruecer, of Southern
Africa, relates that he had formerly been an
opponent to missions. One day. he asked a
dying Kaflir servant whether he knew where
he would go after death. ‘‘No,’’ replied the
Kaflir, ‘‘you never told me anything about it.”
Krueger attempted to tell him something about
eternal life, but the dying man interrupted him
by saying: ‘‘I am not able to comprehend that
now; butif I go toa bad place, it will be your
fault.’’ These words had a powerful effect on
the man. He ceased to be an opponent, and
became a friend and advocate of missions, in
order to discharge a debt that rested heavily
and solemnly upon his conscience.

Acknowledgment.

Received for colored missions of Rev. J. Koss-
mann, Missionary, from Bethlehem Congregation,
New Orleans, La., $25.00; of Rev. J. C. Schmidt,
Missionary, from Grace Congregation in Greens-
boro, N. C., 12.00; of Rev. D. H. Schooff, Mission-
ary, from Congregation in Mecherrin, Va., 12.00.

A. C. BurGporF, Treas.

St. Louis, Mo., July 20, 1900.

Evangelical Lutheran Colored Churches,
New OR.Eans, La.

EV. LUTH. ST. PAUL’S CHAPEL.
1625 Annette Str., between Claiborne and Derbigny.

Divine services: Sunday morning at 94 o'clock.
Sunday evening at 734 o'clock.
Wednesday evening at 1% o'clock.
Sunday School: Sunday morning at 10% o’clock.
Adult catechumen class mects at 744 o’clock Tuesday

evening.
Singing School mects at 734 o'clock Friday evening.

EV. LUTH. MOUNT ZION CHURCH.
Cor. S. Franklin and Thalia Strs.

Divine services: Sunday morning at 11 o'clock.
Sunda evening at 74 o'clock.
Thursday evening at 744 o’clock.
Sunday School: Sunday morning at 934 o'clock.
Adult Satechuman class mects at 734 o'clock Friday
evening. ‘
Young Pesples’ Concordia Circle and Singing School
meet Wednesday evening at 7% o'clock.
F., J. LANKENAD, Missionary.

EV. LUTH. BETHLEHEM OHAPEL.
Cor. Washington Avenue and Dryades Str.
Divine services: Sunday evening at 7 o'clock.
Thursday evening at 734 o'clock.
Sunday School at 9% o'clock.
Adult catechumen class every Tucsday at 734 o'clock and
aftcr the divine service on Thursday evening. A
Choir practice at 714 o'clock on Tuesday evening an
after divine service on Thursday cven ng
Circle for Young Beople meets at the school every Tacs-
lay evening a! o’clock.
uM 3 J. W. F. KossMANn, Missionary:

Ey. Luth. Holy Trinity Church.

Springfield, Ml.
Divine Services at half past 10 o'clock Sunday morning
and at 8 o’clock Sunday evening.
Sunday School at 3 o'clock P. M.
Oatechumen class meets Monday and Friday evenings.
Singing-school Tuesday evening.
ee
TERMS:
Tae LurHeraNn PIONEER is published monthly,
payable in advance at the following rates,
in ed, to-wit:

28 Cope: 5.00
“ eo eeeecseeensee

7 veeee 9.00 t
Club rates only allowed if all copies are to be se”
to one address. to
All business communications to be addressed
“Concordia Publishing House,” St. Louis, Mo. 1,
communications concerning the edito one
partment to be addressed to Prof. R. A. Bids y
mcordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind.