The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1908, Page 43

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

43.

Fruits of the Gospel in Mission Lands.

Here are a few examples, showing the fruits of
the Spirit as they have become manifest in the life
of the liberated and redeemed negro slaves in Sierra
Leone, upon the western coast of Africa.

Before their conversion the natives were ad-
dicted to all vices. Among other things they were
the most inveterate thieves. The honesty and thor-
ough reliability of the converted are the most con-
vincing evidences of the transforming power of the
Gospel of Christ. One day, while Missionary Jan-
sen was absent, the mission house took fire. The
members of the congregation had succeeded in res-
cuing and carrying away all its contents, but after-
wards, when everything was brought together, not
even the smallest article was missed. The box that
served as the treasury had fallen into the hands of
one of the boys. He had taken his position in the
yard and, sword in hand, was protecting his charge.

These natives were notoriously lazy. The fruits
of the Gospel appeared in their diligence and in-
dustry. ‘Their houses and gardens were kept in the
best of order. ‘Those who had learned to read
would often use their leisure moments in reading
their Bibles to their neighbors. Others, would ren-
der such services in the homes of the sick, the aged,
the indifferent and wayward.

The homes of the natives, too, bore many evi-
“dences of the hallowed influence of the Gospel of
peace. One of the negroes was asked how he got on
with his wife, and he replied: “Sometimes I say
a word that does not please my wife, or my wife
does something that displeases me. But when we
are in danger of quarreling, we join hands, lock the
door and pray, and then we have peace again.”

Formerly these people were so insubordinate and
riotous that the military could scarcely hold them
in-check. After ‘their conversion their docility and
readiness to obey and be led were most striking.

When the negro regiments of the West Indies
were disbanded and sent back to Sierra Leone, the
members of the congregation ‘at Regent took a pe-
culiar and intense interest in their coming. Many
a one who-had once upon a time fallen into the
hands of slave-hunters and been carried away into
slavery hoped to find some friend or relative among
these returning exiles. This was the one topic of
conversation throughout the community when, in
the evening, the news was’ brought that the troops
would land the next morning. The attendance at
morning prayer in the church was larger than usual.

The missionary referred to the temptations into
which one is liable to fall, and in his prayer ex-
pressed the hope that no one might go to Freetown
to-day lest he receive injury to his soul, much as he
approved of and sympathized with the feelings of
the people. After the service an aged Christian
came to him and said that his brother was among
the soldiers.

“And you would like to see him?”
missionary.

“Yes, Massa; but to-day I will not. go.”

“But,” continued the missionary, “I must send
some one to Freetown to-day, if you can find an-
other church member who would like to go along,
I will send you both.”

About two hours later he came again andl said:

“Massa, I find no one who wants to go along.
All the people say: ‘I will not go where God says
there is temptation lurking.’ ”

The old man waited two days before he beheld
the face of his brother.

answered the

(2 te

Only Three Steps.

There was a boy who was rather simple-minded,
having only little worldly wisdom, but who had been
taught by the Spirit a knowledge above all human
wisdom. A friend wishing to find out whether he
had any ideas on the subject of religion, said to
him one day, “It is hard work, is it'not, to get to
heaven?” He was surprised to receive from the boy
the answer, “No; it is easy. ‘There are only three
steps — first, out of self; second, into Christ; third,
into heaven.”

A Blessed Son.

A wealthy merchant who was entertaining one
of his friends showed him through his house and
home, pointing out to him his great riches, his
many. comforts, barns, stables, and the like. After
his friend had seen all these things, and declared
him to be exceedingly “lucky;” the merchant ‘said:
“All these things do not bestow blessings upon me
and mine, but another room to which I will now
lead you.” Thereupon he took him to a small room
which he had prepared especially for his aged and
devout mother, a godly and prayerful woman:
“Phis,? said he, “is the place from which blessings
flow over me and my whole ae for the Draven
of the righteous availeth mu ;