The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1903, Page 8

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

Paying for a Free Gospel.

Some people when they hear that the Gos-
pel is offered unto sinners ‘‘without money
and without price’’ wonder why the collection

plates are handed round after the sermon.

They do not stop to think that what they drop
into the plates is not paying for the Gospel
itself —for that no money can buy, it is be-
yond all price—but simply for the necessary

outlay to bring that free Gospel to men.
A colored preacher gave a better answer

than he himself was aware of, when, after

preaching a sermon on this free Gospel, he
was rebuked by a brother for urging a large
collection. ‘‘Did you not preach that the
Gospel was free?’? questioned the brother.
‘““Why, yes,’’ replied the preacher, ‘‘de Gos-
pel am free; just as free as de water in de
reservoir am. I don’t ask you to pay for de
Gospel, but only for de water pipes through
which de Gospel flows.’’

That is it exactly. You are not paying for
the Gospel which you hear every Sunday.
You are simply paying for the ‘‘pipes,’’ the
earthen vessels, through which it comes to
you. You are paying for the support of col-
leges and seminaries necessary to turn out
these ‘‘earthen vessels,’’ known as preachers
of the Word. You are paying for conveni-
ences to enable you to hear the Gospel with
comfort and to bring that Gospel to others also.

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Kapiolani.

In the Sandwich Islands is a great volcano,
called Mauna Loa. This has the largest burn-
ing crater in the world, about a mile across,
boiling and bubbling at various points a thou-
sand feet below the rim of the crater.

The heathen there believed that their mighty
goddess Pele dwelt in that place, and that
whenever they forgot to sacrifice, or otherwise
gained her ill will, she would cast forth storms

_ of stones and ashes, pour out rivers of lava,

and shake the whole country with earthquakes.
As the heathen believe in many gods, so here
they supposed there dwelt not only Pele, but
also her brothers and sisters. These they
called the king of steam, the rain of night,
the thunderer, the firechild of war, the cloud-
holder, and the fiery-eyed canoe breaker.
Kapiolani was a princess of the Island of
Hawaii and had become a Christian. The na-
tives were afraid to accept the Christian faith,
fearing that Pele would destroy them if they
did'so. But Kapiolani, brave and zealous, re-
solved to teach them that they need not fear

Pele. So she calmly walked up and up till she

came to the very brink of the crater, and dared
Pele to come with all her fires and destroy one

_who believed in the true God.

' Around, at a distance, stood the natives
veeping, trembling, calling their princess to
come away from the home of the dreaded god-
But; of course, Pele did not harm her,

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and Kapiolani called out that she would go
down into the crater, and if she did not return
safe they might go on in their worship and
faith in Pele, but if she came back unharmed,
they must learn to adore the Creator of all,
the true God.

She then went down to the very fires, threw
in the sacred berries which were thought to
bring death to anyone who would even hold
them there, stirred the lava with a stick, and
laughed at Pele’s power.

Returning home in safety, she was the
means of bringing many natives to faith in
Jesus. She had preached them a powerful
sermon by showing them they need not fear
the dreaded goddess. — Little Missionary.

°—<—_e

A Brave Chinese Boy.

Dr. Gritlith John, the well-known mission-
ary in China, sends to a mission band the fol-
lowing story from Hankow:

‘*A Chinese boy who had been to a Chris-
tian school had made up his mind that he
would worship idols no longer. Some of his
relatives were very angry because of this, and
tried to force him to worship them. They
beat him, but it was of no use; he only be-
came more determined in his mind that he
would never worship them again. One day
they took him to a temple and tried to force
him to go on his knees and bow his head to
the idol, but he stoutly refused.

‘SAt last they threatened to throw him into
the river which was flowing near by. ‘Throw
me,’ said he, ‘if you like; but I will never
worship wood and stone again. Jesus is the
true Saviour, and I will worship Him only.’
They took hold of him and pitched him into
the water. One of his relatives, however,
rushed after him and picked him up again.
When out of the water the first thing he said
was, ‘You have not succeeded. While in the
water I never prayed to idols; I only prayed
to Jesus.’”’ A brave boy that! May we all
be as brave—brave for God ; brave for Jesus;
brave for righteousness; brave for the salva-
tion of the world.

——t << > oe

The Book of Heaven.

This is what the Bible is called in the flowery
language of the Indians.

Quite a number of these ‘‘Sons of the For-
est’”’ were gathered along the northern coast
of Lake Superior, last winter, to engage in
fishing. Among them was an old Indian who
had taken his Bible along from which he read
a portion every day. After several weeks of
successful fishing the party decided to return
home. Before retiring the old Indian read for
the last time in his Bible and then requested
his son to pack it up, ready to take along.

The next morning, early, they started for
home. The Bible which had been carefully
packed away for the journey had, at the ur-

gent request of another Indian, been taken
out and loaned to him. He, however, forgot
to return it.

After a journey of several days the party
reached home. On unpacking the goods what
was the old Indian’s surprise and chagrin not
to find his highly-prized Bible. Without say-
ing one word he started back on his snow
shoes, and after going a distance of 280 miles,
returned, bringing his ‘‘Book of Heayen’’
with him.

OUR BOOK TABLE.

First READER. Standard American Scries. Wlus-
trated. Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis,
Mo. Price, 30 cts.

Some time ago one of our teachers wrote to us:
‘4 new series of English Readers is a long-felt need
in our parochial schools.’? We are glad that our
Publishing House is beginning to supply this ‘long-
felt need.’ To judge from this First Reader, the
new series will be well adapted for our schools. All
concerned In the publishing of the book have done
their work well. Its beautiful illustrations will
make it a joy to the little ones.

Acknowledgment.

Received for colored missions of Rev. K. Kretzsch-
mar from Mt. Zion Church, New Orleans, La., $25.00;
of Rev. F. J. Lankenau from St. Paul’s Church, New
Orleans, La., 25.00; of Rev. J. Kossmann from Beth-
lehem Church, New Orleans, La., 25.00; of Rev. J.C.
Schmidt from Grace Church, Greensboro, N. C.,
12.00. A.C. Bureporr, Treas.

St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 15, 1903.

Evangelical Lutheran Colored Churches,
NEw ORLEaNs, La.

EY. LUTH. ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL.
1625 Annette Str., between Olaiborne and Derbigny.
Divine services: Sunday morning at 934 o'clock.
Sunday evening at 74 o'clock.
Wednesday evening at 1% o'clock.
Sunday School: Sunday morning at 1034 o'clock.
Adult catechumen class mects at 7}4 o'clock Tuesday

evening. F
Singing School meets at 734 o’clock Friday cvening.
F. J. LANKENAU, Missionary.

EV. LUTH. MOUNT ZION OHUROH.
Cor. S. Franklin and Thalia Stra.
Divine services: Sunday morning at 11 o'clock.
Sunday evening at 734 o'clock.
Thursday cvening at o'clock.
Sunday School: Sunday morning at 94 o'clock.
Adult on recnumex class mects at 734 o’clock Friday
evening.
Young Posple's Concordia Circle and Singing School
meet Wednesday cvening at 734 o'clock.
RL KRETZSCHMAR, Missionary.

EV. LUTH. BETHLEHEM OHAPEL.
Cor. Washington Avenue and Dryades Str.
Divine services: Sunday evening at o'clock.
Thursday evening at 734 o'clock.
Sunday School at 934 o’clock.
Adult catechumen class every Tucsday at 74 0'clock and
after the divine service on Thursday cvening.
Choir practice at 734 o’clock on Tuesday evening and
after divine service on Thursday even DE
Circle for Young People meets at the school every Tues-
day evening at 734 o'clock.
i J. W. F. KO88MANN, 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 mects Monday and Friday evenings.
Singing-school Tuesday evening.

TERMS:
Tue Lurneran PionzER is published monthly,
payable in advance at the following rates, p:
included, foes 5 65

12
10 Copies 2.00
25% +e» 5.00

Club rates only allowed if all copies are to be sent
to one address.

All business communications to be addressed to
“Concordia Publishing House,” Jefferson Ave. and
Miami St., St. Louis, Mo. .

All communications concerning the editorial de-

ent to be addressed to Prof. R. A. BiscHoF?;.
mcordia College, Fort Wayne, Ind.