The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1909, Page 53

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

63

by a snake. This caused the loss of his eyesight.
Ilis cruel master then drove him away, having no
longer any use for him. His relatives also cast him
out. A native helper in the mission field took poor
blind Stephen into his home and cared for him, for
which kindness Stephen thankfully made himself
useful about the house as much as he could.
Blind Stephen could not read; but he had a
very good memory, and through hearing gained a
good knowledge of the Bible, so that he was soon
able to help in mission work. Under the direction
of the missionary he instructed those who wished
to be baptized, and also held devotional meetings
for the small congregation of the’ village in which
he lived. Thus Blind Stephen led many into the
light of the Gospel, until a few years ago he took
sick with smallpox and passed to his heavenly home
to behold his Savior in the light of everlasting glory.

Sp acenal —-

A Consecrated Servant Girl.

An Eastern lawyer, who has for many years been
eminent in his profession, and at the same time
noted for his earnestness in the work of the Church,
as well as for his princely gifts, relates the follow-
ing story of a missionary gathering which he at-
tended and which left its impression on him for life.

- One of the speakers on mission work told in his
appeal of a servant girl in his employ whose wages
were two dollars a week. She gave one dollar every
month for missions. She had a class of poor boys
in Sunday school who never missed her from her
place; and the speaker added: “She is the tidiest,
cheeriest girl we ever had in our kitchen.”

The young man went home with these words
ringing in his ears: “Class in Sunday school,”
“Dollar a month for missions,’ “Happiest girl.”
He resolved, if this poor girl could give one dollar
a month to missions, he could and would. Then
he announced his willingness to take a class in
Sunday school. These were the results of that plain
girl’s consecrated life.

The Christian and Good Works.

“Good works,” says Luther, “do not make a
Christian, but one must be a Christian to do good
works. ‘The tree bringeth forth fruit, not the fruit
the tree. No one is made a Christian by works, but
. by Christ; and being in Christ, he brings forth
fruit for Him.”

A Faithful Steward.

The late Henry ‘Thornton was known as a cheer-
ful giver, always willing to subscribe for missions.
One day a collector for missions came to him for
a subscription, and ‘Thornton subscribed $25.00.”
He had hardly handed the paper back to the col-
lector when a telegram was brought to him. He
opened it, read it, and turned pale. Then he said
to the collector: “I have received bad news; I have
lost many hundreds. Please give me back the paper;
I must change my subscription.”

The collector could not but think that Thornton
would strike out the $25.00; but to his surprise
Thornton simply changed the 25 into 250 dollars,
saying: “God just now teaches me that [ might
possibly not long be in possession of my property ;
therefore I must make good use of it while I
have it.”

And Thornton did not lose anything by this.
He died as one of the richest merchants of his time,
after having placed his wealth, his influence, and
his time in the service of the Lord, whose steward
he considered himself to be. ‘

Christians should remember that they are but
stewards, and that they must give an account of
their stewardship. They should make good use of
that which is entrusted to them, as long as they have
it, and work while it is day. “The night cometh
when no man can work.”

—_——> -->—____—__

Faithful.

A Chinese convert, named Hiung, had a brother-
in-law of considerable influence at Pekin, who offered
him a lucrative post in which he would earn about
$90.00 a month, with prospect of increase. But
he would have to give up his Christian faith. When
the offer came, he brought the letter to the mis-
sionary, Dr. Griffith John, who said to him: “You
are in the wilderness with Christ; the devil is
offering you wealth and position, the two things
the Chinese covet. What are you going to do
about it?” ‘

Hiung replied: “I have made up my mind to
decline the offer. Matthew left the customs to fol-
low Christ. The devil wants me to leave Christ
to follow the customs; that will never do.”

His wife tried to persuade him to accept, and he
found it more difficult to resist his wife’s wishes
than the offer. But he resisted- all temptation and
remained faithful.