The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1905, Page 78

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

Life’s Pathway.

Though the path through life may have some briars
And thorns, I find there are roses too,

And each dark cloud has a silver lining —

I find the rose where a thorn once grew.
Sometimes my feet become worn and weary

As I try to walk life’s narrow way.

My eyes are fixed on the golden city

That I hope to gain some future day.

The walk may lead along amid troubles,

The burdens may seem too hard to bear;

On my path is a radiance falling—

The Shepherd leads me through pastures fair.

And now the path leads through choicest blossoms,
* A fountain is sparkling pure and bright;

On yonder tract is Calvary’s mountain,

Off in the distance the city of light.

Tenderly, safely the Shepherd leads me

Over the places so rough and steep,

Leading me gently over the mountains,

And on through the valleys dark and deep.

Softly I tread the way with rejoicing,

Thankful I have such a loving Friend.

Through the vale of tears I hear Him calling,
“JT will go with thee unto the end.”

Quickly He leads me o’er valleys of danger,
Into gardens of joy and delight.

With such a kind and loving companion

If I but follow, all will be right.

When I stray in paths rough and thorny,
The Shepherd points to the narrow way
That is bedecked with flowers and garlands,
The path that leads to eternal day.

And now my feet no longer are weary
As I walk through this beautiful place.
For beyond is the heavenly city

Filled with radiance, beauty, and grace.
Onward I wander while time is fleeting,
Close by the side of my faithful Friend,
Lovingly, sweetly I hear Him whisper,

-“*I will be with thee unto the end.”
Esther Peterson.

Harvest Home and Mission Festival at
Gold Hill, N.C.

Among the first invitations I received since com-
ing South was the one to preach at the Harvest Home
and Mission Festival at Gold Hill on August 20th.
I left Charlotte on Saturday morning, and went to
Concord, where I was met by Rey. S. Doswell, going
with him in a buggy to Mount Pleasant. He intro-
duced me to quite a number of his members, and
showed me the meeting-house. ‘This is the worst
building we have in North Carolina, with the ex-
ception of the old dining hall of Immanuel College.
The people, however, are collecting money with
which to build a new church. I passed the night
at Mount Pleasant, and early next morning we be-
gan our drive of fifteen miles to Gold Hill. The
rolling country of Rowan County with its wooded

hills, fertile valleys, and fine orchards is the most
picturesque I ever saw. We arrived in Gold Hill
at9 a.m. At 100’clock, the congregation began to
assemble. The church is a modest frame building.
It has a seating capacity of 150 persons. ‘The mem-
bers made preparations for a large crowd, and they
were not disappointed. The weather was ideal.
Half an hour before services commenced, the vis-
itors began to arrive from Concord, Mount Pleas-
ant, Rock Hill, Salisbury, and other stations. The
church was soon filled, and all the seats outside
near the windows were taken. The church had
been beautifully decorated, as is customary, with
all kinds of vegetables and fruits. Looking down
the aisle, one would imagine it was a corn row. On
each Side of the aisle a corn stalk was tied to each
bench. The altar was banked with fruits of all de-
scriptions. There were peaches, pears, plums,
grapes, and apples. On the floor around the read-
ing-stand were watermelons, pumpkins, sweet po-
tatoes, onions, stalks of okra, bunches of sage, long
strings of red pepper, baskets of string beans, field
peas, tomatoes, and cabbage—a veritable fair.

At 11 0’clock, the morning service began. Rev.
Phil. Schmidt, of Concord, preached the Harvest
Home sermon from Luke 12, 16—21. After show-
ing his hearers how richly God had blessed them,
he admonished them to use these gifts to the glory
of God and the furtherance of His kingdom among
men. The singing at this and also the other serv-
ices was grand. After services, the visitors did not
go home, but were the guests of the congregation.
There was a long table made of rough boards in
front of the church; cloths were spread on it, and
it was soon laden with food. Every visitor came up
and was served gratis. Three o’clock soon came,
the church again filled up, and the people listened
to a mission sermon based on 1 Pet. 2,9, by the
undersigned. Rev. James Doswell then baptized
two children. At the conclusion of this service,
most of the visitors returned home. Those who re-
mained found entertainment in the rural homes of
the hospitable members. A good-sized audience
was present at the evening service, which began at
8 o’clock. Rev. Stewart Doswell preached an able
and edifying sermon on ‘‘Individual Mission Work,”
based on John 1, 40. 41.—The congregation returned
home edified and instructed. They were liberal in
their contributions. The collections taken during
the three services amounted to $24.50.

The congregation at Gold Hill is prospering, and
is among our strongest in North Carolina. May our
heavenly Father continue to bless them with all
spiritual and temporal gifts. JoHn McDavin.

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