The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 79

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The Sister’s Farewell.

Come a little closer, sister,

Lay my head upon your breast.
Let your loving arms entwine me;
I’m grown weary, let me rest.
Earthly scenes are swiftly passing,
I can see the other shore:

There’s an angel by the river,
Waiting there to bear me o’er.

Sister, hear the waters rushing,
Rushing onward to the sea.

See, the waves are gently falling,
"Tis like music sweet to me.
Soon Ill cross the river, sister,
I will soon be free from pain;

I am going home to heaven,

Do not weep for me again.

Hark! I hear the angels playing,
Now they’re floating round me here.
Listen, oh, what lovely music,

See their bright forms hovering near.
Sister, you must cease your weeping,
I shall only pass away

To the home of my dear Savior,

You must come there, too, some day.

Now the pearly gates are opened,
J can see the heavenly place.
Oh, how fair it is and lovely,
Oh, how sweet the Savior’s face.
Now I hear Him gently calling,
And this -life will soon be o’er.
Farewell, sister, I am going,
Going home to die no more.
ESTHER PETERSON.
+ —___.

Harvest and Mission Festival at Concord.

The second Sunday in August was a day of
great rejoicing among the members of Grace
Ey. Luth. congregation in Concord, N. C. The
occasion was the celebration of their annual Har-
vest and Mission Festival, which, by the way, is
gaining great popularity among our people in the
old North State.

The church was tastefully and profusely deco-
rated with various fruits and flowers common to our
Southland, and the arrangement of them in many
places about the altar was so unique that it seemed
as if Mother Nature had with her kind hand and
artistic fingers placed them there herself. And as
we gazed upon these rich, fresh, and copious mani-
festations of Divine love and faithfulness, we could
not refrain from thanking and praising God as the
Lord of the harvest, who promised more than four
thousand years ago: “While the earth remaineth,
seedtime and harvest shall not cease.”

The Lutheran Pioneer.

‘the school-room.

79

People came in large numbers from all the
nearby congregations, and by 11 o’clock, the time
appointed for the service, the church was well filled.
The morning service was conducted by the under-
signed, who preached the Harvest sermon, basing
it upon the Master’s word found in Matt. 6, 11:
“Give us this day our daily bread.” Rev. John
McDavid, of Charlotte, N. C., occupied the pulpit
in the afternoon, preaching the Mission sermon,
taking for his text Matt. 20, 1—16. His sermon
was an eloquent appeal for consecrated service in
the Lord’s vineyard. The night service was con-
ducted by Rev. J. H. Doswell, of Gold Hill, N. C.,
who preached from John 3, 3: “Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God.”

Each service was well attended and the collec-
tion was good. “I'were doing the good people of
Concord an injustice if, in connection with these
services, mention would not be made of Rev. Schmidt
and his choir, which contributed largely to the
beauty and the success of the day by rendering so
excellently many beautiful and appropriate anthems.
Especially that familiar hymn of J. Neander — so
dear to every Lutheran heart — “Praise to the Lord,
the Almighty, the King of creation,” sung con-
jointly by choir and congregation, was, indeed, soul-
stirring.

On that day, as well as on all other occasions,
the sermons were not delivered to entertain, to
please and to tickle the fancy of the multitudes, but
God’s Word, according to the teaching of our
church, was preached plainly, purely, and earnestly
for the salvation of immortal souls. We pray that
God may bless these sermons; and while we cele-
brate the harvest may He, through faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ, prepare us for the Great Harvest
at the end of the world. S. Doswetu.

Harvest Home and Mission Festival at
Charlotte, N.C.

" .On the 10th Sunday after Trinity, the St. Paul’s
Ey. Luth. congregation at Charlotte, N. C., cele-
brated its annual Harvest Home. and Mission Fes-
tival.

_ At 11 A. a. the pastor loci, Rev. John McDavid,
preached from John 6, 1—15 on: “Jesus Christ
our Helper in every need.” The Lord’s Supper was
then celebrated. After this service meals for the
visitors were served by the Ladies’ Aid Society in