The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 62

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62

New Orleans Items.

HEAT IS SAID TO EXPAND, while cold contracts,
but with us it seems to be the other way. With
the appearance of summer our church and Sunday
school attendance usually contracts and diminishes,
while in winter it expands. The fact is, everybody
that is able to do so turns his back upon New Or-
leans in summer, and if he can afford it, he will
take his servants with him, and if some of these
servants happen to be members of our Lutheran
churches, of course their pews will be vacant on
Sunday. Then there are Sunday excursions to the
neighboring villages and pleasure resorts that are,
in part, responsible for the small attendances at
divine worship and Sunday school. Of course,
people should not prefer an excursion to a divine
service, but they do—bhere as well as elsewhere.
And lastly, some say it is too hot to go to church.
Well, we know what that means. Nevertheless,
services are held as usual, and compared with pre-
vious summers, the attendance is quite encouraging.

Sr. PavuL’s CONGREGATION has dropped the usual
Sunday night service for the summer and substi-
tuted an early. morning service beginning at seven
o’clock — some call it early mass. The plan seems
to work well, and the attendance so far is good.
Not long ago another new member was received by
this congregation.

THE .FORMER CATECHUMENS OF BETHLEHEM
Cuunrcw held a reunion service in the church and
also a social gathering in the school hall.

THE BUILDINGS OF MouNnT ZION STATION are
undergoing extensive repairs and will receive a new
coat of paint during the summer months. The
cost, about $300.00, is defrayed out of the treasury
of the congregation, which contains a cash balance
of $390.00. With the opening of the coming term
of school the congregation intends to increase its
monthly contributions to the pastor’s salary. The
pastor, Rey. Kretzschmar, is enjoying a few weeks’
vacation to improve his health.

THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES -AT LUTHER
CoLLEGE were held on the 27th of June. The

fine program, consisting of choral and instrumental
music, readings, recitations, and orations by the
graduates and students of the college, assisted by
other young people from our congregations, was
received with cordial approval by the large and
enthusiastic audience. The graduates are Miss

‘ices, and Rev. Lash in the afternoon.

‘The Lutheran Pioneer.

Edna Walter, of St. Paul’s Church, who, besides
her studies during the past year, took care of the
third class of St. Paul’s School, and Mr. Aaron
Wiley, of Bethlehem congregation, who in the fall
will also enter school-work. Also three students
graduated from the high-school department.

THE PAST YEAR has been a very prosperous one
for the college. Forty-six students attended classes.
The showing was very creditable, and must be con-
sidered all the more so in view of the difficulties
besetting the progress of the work. The insufficient
number of instructors, together with the lack of
many things necessary for the successful work of
a college, seriously handicapped the activity of the
institution. Just now it does not seem as though
these difficulties will be materially lessened during
the coming year, but God, who has prospered us in
the past, will not forsake us in the future.

Sister Henperson, the oldest member of Beth-
lehem congregation, died a few weeks ago. She
had been blind and helpless for a number of years
and was supported out of the Sick and Needy Fund
of the congregation.

Chapel Needed in Salisbury, N. C.

On Sunday, July 15, the members of St. John’s
Ey. Luth. Church of Salisbury, N. C., made another
effort at raising funds with which to rebuild their
chapel. They rented a large hall and had three
divine services. Unfortunately, inclement weather
prevented the sister congregations of Rockwell and
The Rocks from attending. However, quite a num-
ber of strangers were present. The pastor from
Charlotte preached at the morning and evening serv-
The people
responded liberally, the collections amounting to
$27.56. The St. John’s congregation consists of
women and children, but they are praying and work-
ing hard to have their chapel rebuilt. It is now
more than a year since it was totally destroyed by
a storm. Since then they have been holding serv-
ices in a hall. But they are very anxious to have a
chapel. One member, a boy who was sorely in need
of a pair of shoes, gave his last dollar, and his
mother, a poor widow, contributed $2.50.

God grant that these poor people may soon have
a neat little chapel where they can worship Him and
hear His blessed Gospel. The people sorely need a
chapel and they are thankful for every help given
them. x.