The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1907, Page 86

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86

.The Lutheran Pioneer.

New Orleans News.

Refreshing, breezy fall has now ousted the
scorching heat of our Southern, sultry summer, and
a lively activity has superseded the quiet, which
during this time had held sway in our mission cir-
cles. Rest has ceased, and work has begun. Luther
College has entered upon its sixth scholastic year
with an enrollment of forty-eight students. The
distribution of students is as follows: Theological
Department, 4; Normal Grades, 7; Preparatory
College, 37. We record this enrollment with grati-
tude towards God, who has guided these pupils to
us, imploring Him to bestow His divine blessings
upon them, and to render them fit and competent
instruments in the good cause of spreading the Gos-
pel among the colored population of the South.
Luther College is, indeed, a school of prime im-
portance. On it the future success of our mission
work is largely dependent. Upon this institution
we look as the future alma mater of the many
preachers and teachers and helpers, whom we so
sorely need in our great and glorious work of win-
ning souls. What has mostly hampered our. work
in the past was the lack of able and skillful men
who were willing to devote their lives to the service
of Christ. We have not been able to expand and
enlarge our mission field because of this reason.
Luther College is, therefore, not merely an educa-
tional institution, intended to render competent its
students for the work and living of this world; nay,
it is something more; it is a school which aims to
train young men and women for the great and noble
calling of being harbingers of the Word of Truth
and Salvation. May the good Lord bless our Luther
College, filling the hearts of.the teachers with love
towards the pupils entrusted to their care, and
granting to the pupils and students confidence in
the sincerity of their teachers, so that by the com-
bined and harmonious efforts of both, teachers as
well as pupils, the grand aim may be attained.

The enrollment of pupils in our various paro-
chial schools is also a very high one. The exact
numbers are as follows: St. Paul, 175; Mount
Zion, 165; Bethlehem, 65. The prospects of hay-
ing large attendances in our schools are, therefore,
very favorable.

Sunday, August 18th, was a day of gladness for
all the members of the Bethlehem congregation; for
on this day they could witness the installation of
their new pastor, Rev. G. Kramer, who was ordained
and installed by the Rev. M. J. Vonderau. The ar-

rival of this young minister was all the more a cause
for rejoicing and thanksgiving, since it was obvious
to all the members of the congregation that now
their ardent supplications for a pastor had been
heard and granted. Under the faithful efforts of
Rev. Kramer the members are trying to pay off the
debt caused by recent repairs. May God bless this
congregation and their new pastor!

From the enrollment it may be inferred that
also the Bethlehem school is making good progress.
Mr. J. Bruns, who of late has been stationed there,
has already gained the confidence of his pupils.
This school is certainly in need of an able and lov-
ing teacher, and we do not doubt that Mr. Bruns
will prove himself the man so sorely needed.
Mr. Odendahl, who in the past years conducted the
instruction in the lower grades, will also during the
ensuing year teach these grades. His untiring zeal
deserves commendably to be mentioned in connec-
tion with the Bethlehem school.

Mr. A. Wiley, second teacher at the St. Paul’s
school, has temporarily taken charge of the school
at Napoleonville. His classes, in the mean time,
are being taken care of by the other teachers of the
school.

The Rev. F. J. Lankenau, who with his family
spent his summer vacations with relatives and
friends in Indiana, is again busily engaged in per-
forming his manifold duties as pastor of St. Paul’s
congregation, and as professor at, and president of,
Luther College.

Prof. F. Wenger, who some time ago was taken
ill, is rapidly recovering, and his physicians believe
he will soon be able to take up his work as professor
at Luther College.

The writer recently made a trip to Napoleon-
ville, and the good people there told him that they
still have good hopes of soon seeing their school
building erected. They are willing to aid us finan-
cially as much as they can. God grant that their
hopes and prayers may soon be realized! J. M.

A Noble Confession.

When General Lee was told by a friend that the
chaplains of the army took deep interest in his wel-
fare, and’ that their most fervent prayers were
offered in his behalf, tears started in his eyes as he
replied: “I sincerely thank you for that, and I can
only say that I am a poor sinner, trusting in Christ
alone, and that I need all the prayers you can offer
for me.” : :