The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1902, Page 8

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

iS
e

8 The Lutheran Pioneer.

ee eee

(For the LUTHERAN PIONEER.)

- Christmas at Springfield.

Christmas was again observed by the colored
mission at Springfield, Ill., with the usual joy
and gladness which this festival of the church
year always elicits from the hearts of those
who have embraced Bethlehem’s Babe in true
faith. Despite the fact that the celebration of
the Christmas tree was postponed to Thursday
evening, a large crowd turned out. Services
commenced at 8.15, but long before the open-
ing of the doors a large number had gathered,
eagerly waiting for admission. At the ap-
pointed time the doors were opened, and our
little chapel, which is generally very difficult
to fill, was soon filled to its utmost capacity.
Fully 200 persons were comfortably seated,
while many others barely found standing room.

The bell was rung, and the program began
with a prelude on the organ, played by our
competent and faithful teacher. Hereupon an
address befitting the occasion was delivered by
one of the colored students of Concordia Semi-
nary. Next in order were the children, who
rendered an elaborate program interspersed
with solos, duets, and choruses. To listen to
the little ones recite in their childlike manner
the prophecies concerning the promised Mes-
siah, and narrate the gladsome story of their
newborn Saviour’s birth was a source of much
pleasure. The tree, decorated with many glis-
tening ornaments and candles, was, in the
mean time, lighted, and served to enhance the
beauty of the occasion. The Christmas carol,
“‘The Christmas Tree the Fairest Tree,’’ was
then sung. After the rendition of. the pro-
gram, the benediction was. pronounced and
the doxology sung, whereupon the distribu-
tion of a goodly number of presents followed.
The hearts of the little ones were made to re-
joice by the many good things which they re-
ceived.

All returned to their homes, commending
the services and rejoicing over what they had
seen and heard. N.N.

‘A Lutheran Mission among the Indians.

The Norwegian Lutheran Synod, some time
ago, opened a mission in Wisconsin among

_ some members of the Winnebago Tribe of In-
* dians. From a letter of the missionary, E. O.

Morstad, published in the Church Messenger,
we clip the following:
_ “TI shall, as briefly as possible, try to tell

_ yeu a little about the work. Some years ago,
" when the Lord in His grace and mercy ‘brought

‘trom darkness to His marvelous light,’ I
got a desire ‘to show forth His praises,’ and
to bring: the message of peace to those who

y been fn: ‘y thoughts. Now, when it

‘that the’ Lord would send me out}.

and blood, but went out, relying on the rich
promises of our Heavenly Father. The Win-
nebagoes have not a reservation in this vicin-
ity, but many of them have entered on home-
steads here, while about one-half of the tribe
are in Nebraska, on a reservation. Some of
them are making progress toward civilization,
but their many dances and heathenish prac-
tices prevail. I did not find them as savage
as I had expected. But of course they are
heathen, and the greatest number of them do
not seem to have much taste for civilization.
What a sight to see all these precious redeemed
souls, all of them, young and old, entirely ig-
norant of God, Saviour, and heaven. They
are, on the contrary, wholly entangled in their
false traditions and nature worship. This ques-
tion often is repeated in my mind: ‘Can these
borfes live?’ ‘Lord, Thou knowest.’

‘We are resolved to pay special attention to
the education of the young. When the mission
house was done, last winter, it was so cold that
I could not expect much attendance of the
neighboring Indian children, whose language
I could not speak, and who were in every re-
spect unfit for discipline and training. A mul-
titude of rumors and invented stories, originat-
ing from interested and evil-intended parties,
were spread out among the Indians, far and
near, about our work; and for some time it
seemed that not a single child would be in-
duced to come to school, nor any parents to
send their children. Meanwhile I went about
with a pictorial primer, to as many as I could
reach, who could understand some English,
and tried to explain to them the Biblical truths
contained in them, and illustrated by pictures.
May God grant, that neither that feeble testi-
mony may ‘return void’!

‘t After some time four boys came and wanted
to attend, but they lived so far off that I had
to keep them here, except Sundays and Satur-
days, when they wanted tostay athome. Ihad
to supply them with clothing, etc. immediately.
They are from twelve to fourteen years old.
They have made some progress in reading and
writing, especially two of them, and behave
comparatively well. Another young man of
the tribe, who knows some English, has been
here to help me with some of the manual labor
and to help me with the Winnebago language.
His name is Amos Bearhart. I hope that the
Lord, when His time comes, may open his heart
for the precious truths of the Gospel. Would
you remember him in your prayers? A family
has now moved in here to take care of the
housekeeping. I have thus a better opportu-
nity to devote myself more fully to the mis-
sion work, and more time to the study of the
language.’”

—_—> +o

A Curious Custom.

The Hindus celebrate the anniversary of the
new year by 4 festival called Hooly, in honor
of Krishna, one of their many false gods. It

is a season of general rejoicing, when every-
body is on an equality, and the distinctions of
“caste’’ are forgotten for the time. It might
be called a ‘‘red day,’’ for all the people who
can afford it dress in red clothes, and they go
about throwing a red-colored powder at one
another, or squirting it, with water from a syr-
inge, on the passersby. During the three or
four days this red-letter feast lasts, everybody
appears to have been dipped in a tub of ak
beer, red powder, the pet monkeys even not
escaping. All this is taken in as good part as
snowballing is with us.

Acknowledgment.

Received for colored missions of Rev. F. J. Lan-
kenau, from St. Paul’s Church in New Orleans, La.,
$25.00; of Rev. J. Kossmann from Bethlehem Church
in New Orleans, La., 25.00; of Rev. K. Kretzschmar
from Mt. Zion Church in New Orleans, La., 25.00;
of Rev. J. C. Schmidt from Grace Church in Greens-
boro, N.C., 24.00; of Rev. D. H. Schooff from St. Mat-
thew’s Church in Meherrin, Va., 10.00.

St. Louis, Mo., Jan, 15, 1902.

A.C. east Treas.

Evangelical Lutheran Colored Churches,
New ORLEaNs, La.

EV. LUTH. ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL.
1625 Annette Str., between Claiborne and Derbigny.
Divine fe services: Sunday morning at 934 o’clock.
Sunday evening at 744 o’clock.
Wednesday evening at 7:
Sunday School: Sunday morning at 10% o'cloc!
edule catechumen class mects at 734 orclook ‘Tuesday

venin,
Singing 1g School meets at 7% o'clock Friday evening.
J. LANKENAU, Missionary,

EV. LUTH. MOUNT ZION CHURCH.
Cor. S. Franklin and Thalia Strs.
Divine services: Sunday morning at 11 o'clock.
Sunday evening at 734 o’clock.
Thursday evening at o'clock.
Sunday School: Sunday morning at 914 o’cloc!
Adult kosteckumen class meets at 734 orclock Friday

ev
Young g Posple's Concordia Circle and A Singing School
meet Wednesday evening at 734 o’cloc!
KARL KRETZSCHMAR, ninioeare

EV. LUTH. BETHLEHEM CHAPEL,
Cor. Washington Avenue ar, era Str.

Divine services: panes, evening o'clock.
jay even: te rae 4 o'clock.
Sunday School at 9 Poco ck.
Adult catechumen Class every Tuesday at 734 0'’clock and
after the divine service on Thursday evening.
Choir pEEacdice at 7% o’clock on Tuesday evening and
r divine service on Thursday cven: ng
circle t for Young Peo le meets at the school every Tues-
day cvening at 734 o'clock.
J. W. F. KossMANN, Missionary.

Ey. Luth. Holy Trinity Church,

Springfleld, MU.
Divine services at half past 10 o'olock Sunday morning
Bi pnd ase erlcok Sunday eve evening.
und a 00) o’ck
Catechum rf amen class meets oo rronday and Friday evenings.
Singing-school Tuesday evening. ;

TERMS:
Luraxran Pronger is published monthly,
payable in advance at the following rates,
luded, Lon He
$B .25
00

10 10 Goples: on

Seon

5 9.00
mon yzaies only allowed if all copies are to be sent
one
to be addressed to
“Goncordia Publishing: fous,” Jefferson Ave. and
Miami St., St. Louis, Mo.
All cerning the editorial de-
riment to be addremed 0 Prof, R.A. Brocuory,
cordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind.