The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1908, Page 51

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‘Che Lutheran Pioneer.

51

Harms’s Es Ship.

Pastor Louis Harms, the one hundredth anni-
versary of whose birth was celebrated on the 5th of
May of this year, determined to establish a mission

‘among the heathen, taking charge of
the Lutheran Eermannsburg.
Twelve young men offered themselves and were edu-
eated for the work.

soon after
congregation at

Harms selected a tribe on the
coast of Africa as the objects of the mission, but
could not find the means to send the missionaries
to that distant land. So he resolved to have a ship
built for this very purpose. He himself thus tells
the story of his mission ship:
said to me, ‘Why not build a ship so that you can
send out as many, and as often as you will?’ Tt was
a good idea; but where was the money? That was
1 wrestled with God.
For no one encouraged me; on the contrary, even
the truest friends and brethren hinted that I was
not quite in my When Duke George of
Saxony lay on his deathbed, and was yet in doubt
to whom he should flee with his soul, whether to
the Lord Jesus Christ and Tis dear merits, or to
the pope and his good works, a trusty courtier said
to him, ‘Your Grace, straightforward makes the
best runner.’ That word had lain fast in my soul.
I had knocked at men’s doors, and found them
shut; and yet the plan was manifestly good and
for the glory of God. What was to be done?
Straightforward makes the best runner. I prayed
fervently to the Lord, laid the matter in His hands,
and as I rose up at midnight from my knees, I said
with a voice that almost startled me in the quiet
room: Forward now in God’s name! From that
moment there never came a thought of doubt into
my mind.”

The ship was built, and Harms aed it Can-
dace after the Queen of the Hthiopians mentioned
in Acts 8, 27. October 28, 1853, this mission ship
left Hamburg with the first colony of missionaries
for Africa. It was a day of joy and thanksgiving
for Harms and for the members of his congrega-
tion, who, like their beloved pastor, were filled with
the true missionary spirit. for many ‘years the
mission ship Candace did good service in carrying
messengers of the Gospel to the poor heathen in
Africa.

“One of the sailors

a time of great conflict, and

senses.

i

WHEREVER you see a Christian in need, know
that it is Christ who is in need and wants your
help. — Luther.

God’s Ways.

Some years since, a missionary in one of the
Feejee Islands heard that the people of a neighbor-
ing town were embracing Christianity. “The report
seemed incredible, inasmuch as it was not known
that any missionary or other Christian teacher had
been among them. A messenger was dispatched to
ascertain the facts. The report was fully confirmed.
The secret of this remarkable event was this:
A short time before, a canoe was wrecked off the
place, and all on board perished, except one Chris-
tian lad who swam ashore. According to the custom”
of the Feejeeans at that time, with reference to
those who had been shipwrecked, the inhabitants
of the place began to make preparations to cook and
eat the boy. Just at this juncture a pagan friend
interposed and rescued him. He now coneluded to
remain with them, and Jabor for their evangeliza-
tion, and the immediate results we have already
indicated. “Here,” remarks the historian, “is the
beginning of a Christian church, founded» by a
doomed but rescued Feejee boy, who was faithful
to his Lord and Master; a true successor of apos-
tolie men, who, in any age or place, have done what
they could for Jesus Christ.”

Simple Faith.

I was once called, says an aged pastor, to attend
the dying-bed of a young woman. In answer to my
inquiries she replied, “I have little to relate as to
my experience. I have been much tried and
tempted; but this is my sheet-anchor: Jesus has
said, ‘Him, that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out.’ I know I have come to Him, and [am sure
He will be as good as His word. Poor and un-
worthy. as I am, He will not trifle with me nor
deceive me. It would be beneath His greatness
as well as goodness.”

A Wrong Understanding.

A missionary in Africa one day asked one of
his pupils, “What do the words mean: “In the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread’?” Without a mo-
ment’s thought the boy replied, “It means: you
shall eat until the sweat runs down your cheeks.
in streams.”

We hope the African boy soon learned to under-
stand his Bible better. i