The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 91

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

91

seen and heard.” As a lighted candle cannot help
shining, so a Christian who rejoices over the birth
of a Savior cannot help making known to others
this Savior and the salvation which is found in Him.
Luther therefore says in his preface to a hymn book
of 1545: “God has gladdened our hearts and minds
through His dear Son whom He gave for us, to
redeem us from sin, death, and the devil. And
whosoever believes this truly cannot do otherwise
than sing of it gladly and cheerfully, so that others
also may hear it and obtain the same joy and com-
fort from it.”

The Rev. Ahlfeld, the well-known German pas-
tor, relates the following incident from his own life:

At the university, one Christmas Eve, a number
of young theologians met to spend the evening to-
gether. Soon a jurist entered and said, “What are
you talking about?”

“We were just talking about the birth of God’s
Son and the greatness of that deed of God’s grace
done for the world in the blessed Christmas time.”

The jurist continued, “Do you really believe
that God’s Son became man?”

“Yes!” all replied.

But the jurist said, “If you really believe it,
then that grace must fill your hearts and burn
within you like fire under your soles. It would not
let you rest until that message be brought to all
the world.”

With downeast eyes each of the young men said
within himself: “Lord, I believe! Increase my
faith and drive off all unbelief!”

May this be our prayer! With the increase of
faith in the Christmas tidings, will also come the
increase of the missionary spirit.

———_>-+-—

The First Gospel Sermon in New Zealand.

The first Gospel sermon in New Zealand was
a Christmas sermon, preached to the Maoris, or
natives of that country, by the Rev. Samuel Mars-
den, English chaplain to a colony in Australia.
He had, at different times, been visited by Maoris
and their chiefs in his home at Sydney and had
won their love and esteem by his kindness. When
he landed in New Zealand, December 19, 1814, he
was welcomed by the natives as a friend. On Christ-
mas Day of that same year the Gospel of Jesus
was for the first time preached to the Maoris. The
service, which began at 10 o’clock in the morning
of the first Christmas Day, was held in the open
air, benches and a pulpit having been prepared

by the ship’s crew, who also attended the services.
The Maori chiefs led their people to the place
and arranged them in a circle near the pulpit.
Rev. Marsden opened the service by singing the
100th Psalm and by reading the beautiful Christ-
mas liturgy. The text of his sermon was the angel’s
Christmas message: “Behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people.
For unto you is born this day, in the city of David,
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Marsden spoke
in English, which only the chiefs understood, they
having learned something of that language during
their visits in Australia. The Maoris complained
that the sermon was too long and that they could
not understand it. One of the chiefs requested
them to keep silence and be patient, as it all would
be explained to them in their own language. So
the sermon was interpreted to the natives by one of
their chiefs, who also later on proved a faithful
friend to the missionaries.

Soon after Marsden’s visit to New Zealand mis-
sionaries began mission work among the Maoris,
and many mission stations were organized. In 1835
the translation of the Bible was completed. It was
eagerly bought and read by the Maoris. An old
chief, in a letter requesting the missionary te send
him a Maori Bible, called the Bible a rifle with
which he could shoot the evil spirit.

The Lutheran church also has for some years
carried on mission work -among the Maoris, and
many souls have been saved by the pure preaching
of the good tidings of great joy. Recently a Maori
youth entered our Lutheran seminary at Spring-
field, Ill., with the view of preparing himself for
mission work among his countrymen. -

ee

A Blessed Christmas.

ee

It was a bright winter morning. The bells of
an old country church called the members of the
country parish together for the Christmas service.
The church was nearly full, when the old clergyman
entered, who had been pastor of that parish for
many and many a long year. Old he was in years,
but his steps were still firm, and his eyes were still
bright as he looked round on his dear people, to
whom he was again to bring the glad Christmas
message as he had done for so many years.

The last verse of the first hymn had been sung,
when a stranger entered and quietly took a seat.
He was a tall man and his sunburnt face told of
many travels. As the service passed on, he gazed