The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1907, Page 31

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The Tut 1eran Pioneer. 31

New Orleans Items.

Wer ALL KNow that the work of our Lutheran
church among the colored people of the South is
surrounded by many difficulties. All the hindrances
with which Satan endeavors to block the progress
of the Christian Church the world over, we find
here. Slander, unjust criticism, persecution, open
and secret antagonism, and whatever else may be
mentioned in this direction, all this our mission
meets with every day. Besides, we have conditions
to contend with which are practically unknown in
other territories of the Church and which tend to
make the missionary activity still more the up-hill
work that it is.

In view of these facts it is very encouraging to
learn how prominent men of both races are slowly
but clearly gaining the conviction that the only way
in which the churches have any prospects for real
and lasting success is the very way upon which God
has thus far been leading our Lutheran chureh
among the freedmen of this section. And the num-
ber of these men is increasing. We point in this
connection to the strenuous endeavors of many local
colored sectarian churches toward the organization
of church schools such as we have in connection
with our stations. We might also mention the ever
repeated pleas of prominent colored churchmen and
educators for a thorough religious training of the
youth of the race. Recently, too, a noted Presby-
terian preacher and professor, a white man of
Southern extraction and training, addressed the
congregation of a prominent local church on co-
operation of both races for the betterment of spir-
itual conditions in the South. In the course of his
address he advocated the adoption of plans almost
identical with those followed out by our church in
its mission work. In summing up his remarks he
said: “I believe that Christianity is on trial in the
South to-day, and on trial before the whole world.
There is a battle going on between two forces —
that of Christianity and human nature. We must
get a firm grip on ourselves, or the human nature
will sweep us off our feet.”

We do not need such expressions as these to
convince us that the course which our church has

adopted is the only correct one. We have long ago ~

gathered this conviction from the success with which
God has blessed our work. But it might be well for
all doubters to learn that our convictions and prin-
ciples are being shared by men that are impartial
and also sufficiently experienced..

A COURSE OF WEEKLY LECTURES has just come
to a close in the Lutheran churches of this city.
The subjects treated by the various pastors were:
“The Twentieth Century Church,’ “Christian Giy-
ing,” “Is Prosperity a Blessing?” “Impure Litera-
ture,” “Miracles and the Bible,’ “Worldliness the
Great Danger of the Church,” “Education in the
Lutheran Chureh,” “Home Devotion,” “Missions,”
“What is Christianity?” “The Folly of Unbelief,”
“Prayer.” ‘These lectures were also delivered in
our colored churches and made quite an impression
upon those who heard them.

THE ATTENDANCE AT SERVICES in our churches
has lately shown an encouraging increase, and with
it the opportunities for real missionary work have
been improving. During Lent the number of
strangers who visit our churches is always greater

. than at other seasons in the year.

‘THE RANKS IN OUR DAY scHOOLs have been
thinning out lately. There has been much sickness
among the children here. A search for the missing
pupils on the part of the teachers already often ends
with the intelligence volunteered by the neighbors,
“Gone to the country for the summer.’ This is
the usual story every year.

THE WEEKLY ENVELOPE sysTEM which has been
introduced in our churches seems to be working
very well. Mount Zion, for instance, during the
months of January and February, realized $43.85
from the envelopes.

ConrirMAtion will have been held in our
churches by the time this issue has reached the
reader. At Bethlehem station no children have
been instructed this year owing to the fact that it
has no resident pastor as yet. But there are pros-
pects of a number of adults being admitted shortly
after Easter.

Pror. GEHNER At NAPOLEONVILLE already has
more than 80 pupils in his school. It is only since
November of the past year that this school has been
in existence; most of the children, having come
from yarious private schools which flourished for
a time and then disappeared, are woefully deficient
in yarious branches, and the majority of them have
never before had religious instruction. One may
imagine the difficulties our young teacher out there
has to contend with. But God is blessing’ his labors,

_ and his school is very popular.