The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1905, Page 94

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94

The Lutheran Pioneer.

Meeting of Immanuel Conference.

The semi-annual meeting of Immanuel Confer-
ence was held in the St. Matthew Lutheran Church
at Meherrin, Va., from the 12th to the 15th of Oc-
tober. The pastoral conference was held on the 12th.
Rev. D. H. Schooff read a paper on the question:
‘Can a Christian partake of the Lord’s Supper un-
worthily?”? Ofcourse, the question was answered
in the affirmative, both by the essayist and the
brethren, in the discussion of the question. Many
important matters came up in this private confer-
ence, the question of having an Old Folks’ Home
being probably the one that will interest the readers
most. In all of our missions there are a number of
old and, in many cases, infirm people, who have no
one to see after them and care for them. Now, in
Meherrin we have a large tract of land, and, at a
small cost, a comfortable dwelling could be built that
would be an asylum where our aged and forsaken
ones could be cared for, and at little expense. Our
congregations could support the home easily. Some
of the churches have already subscribed money for
the erection of the home.— Another interesting mat-
ter that came up for the consideration of conference
was Rey. N. J. Bakke’s silver jubilee on the 7th of
November. The matter was left in the hands of a
committee. Thursday evening Rev. W. Lash, of
Salisbury, N. C., preached a sermon on 2 Thess.
2, 138. 14.

Conference proper began at 10 A. M., on Friday,
the 13th. After devotional exercises conference was
organized. Rev. D. H. Schooff was elected chair-
man for the ensuing year. Prof. N. J. Bakke was
chosen vice-president, and Prof. Wahlers reelected
secretary. Prof. M. Lochner and the undersigned
were received as members of conference. Rey. C.
Lauterbach, of Ridgeway, N. C., was given the
privileges of the floor. Conference accepted the in-
vitation to hold the next session at Immanuel Col-
lege in Greensboro, N.C. The new building will
then be finished and dedicated. In the afternoon
session, Rey. J. H. Doswell read a timely and inter-
esting paper on ‘‘Christian Giving.’? This paper
ought to be read in all of our churches. At the
evening session the undersigned delivered a brief
discourse on Luke 17, 11—19, and Rev. Doswell
finished reading his paper. On the 14th,. after

some minor business had been transacted, Prof.
' Wablers read an essay on ‘‘Christian Suffering.’’
He finished reading this paper in the afternoon
session. Rey. J. H. Doswell preached at the even-
‘ing service on Matt. 16, 26. In divine service on
Sunday morning, Rev. Schooff preached a confes-

sional address from 1 Cor. 11, 27—29, and Rev.
Lash delivered a sermon on Acts 16, 30. 31, after
which the brethren and the congregation. partook
of the Lord’s Supper. In the afternoon, Rev. J.C.
Schmidt, of Greensboro, N. C., preached a mission
sermon from Matt. 28,19. In the evening, Rev. J.
Ph. Schmidt, of Concord, N. C., delivered a ser-
mon from Ps. 189, 1—12, after which the under-
signed, in the name of conference, thanked the
members and the pastor of St. Matthew’s Church
for their hospitality, and conference adjourned sine
die by singing ‘‘God be with you till we meet again.”’
Next morning the brethren left for their respective
stations, strengthened and refreshed, to continue to
win souls for Christ and spread God’s kingdom on
earth. J. McD.

poe

Christmas in the Himalayas.

Swen Hedin, the famous Norse explorer, on his
return journey, spent Christmas with the mission-
aries at Leh, a town in Little Tibet on the northern
slopes of the mighty Himalayas. He mentions this
pleasant incident in his book, ‘‘In the Heart of
Asia,’’ as follows:

‘‘The days passed only too quickly. I was over-
whelmed with kindness by Messrs. Ribbach and
Hettasch and their estimable wives. Miss Bass and
Dr. Chawe treated the sick fellows in my caravan
with tender care. I went to the missionaries daily
and became acquainted with their work of faith and
love and patience.

‘We celebrated Christmas together in the neat
chapel of the mission. The room beamed with
candle light, and the Christmas tree with its fruits
and its countless little candles awakened in me
sweet memories of my childhood days in my dear
old homeland. Mr. Ribbach preached in Ladaki,
and the whole. audience, which filled the chapel
completely, joined in the singing heartily. All the
people had put on their best clothes. I hardly ever
before attended such a soul-stirring, solemn wor-
ship. The soft radiance of the lights on the Christ-
mas tree and the sweet tones of the organ enchanted
me. I was moved to the depth of my soul, for I had
80 much cause for thankfulness to God, as all our’
hardships had now come to an end and I had found
good friends in the first Europeans I met with on |
my return to civilization.’’

My times are in Thy hand, O Lord! Go Thou .
with me, and I am safe. And, above all, make me
useful in promoting Thy cause of peace and good-
will among men. — David Livingstone.