The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1909, Page 75

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

75

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

At a terrible accident in the coal mines near
Scranton, Pa., several men were buried for three
days, and all efforts to rescue them had proved un-
successful. The majority of the miners were Ger-
mans. ‘They were in a state of intense excitement
caused by sympathy for the wives and children of
the buried men and despair at their own balked
efforts.

A great mob of ignorant men and women as-
sembled at the mouth of the mine on the evening
of the third day in a condition of high nervous
tension which fitted them for any mad act. A sullen
murmur arose that it was folly to dig farther, that
the men were dead; and this was followed by cries
of rage at the rich mine owners, who were in no
way responsible for the accident.

A hasty word or gesture might have produced
an outbreak of fury. Standing near was a little
German girl, perhaps eleven years old. “Her pale
face and frightened glances from side to side showed
that she fully understood the danger of the moment.
Suddenly, with a great effort, she began to sing in
a hoarse whisper which could not be heard. Then
she gained courage, and her sweet childish voice
rang out in Luther’s grand old hymn, familiar to
every German from his cradle:-“A mighty fortress
is our God.”

There was a silence like death. Then one voice
joined that of the girl, and presently another and

- another, until from the whole great multitude rose

the solemn words of the hymn. A great quiet seemed
to fall upon the hearts of all. They resumed their
work with fresh zeal, and before morning the joyful
cry came up from the pit that the men were found
— alive. ;

+--+ —__—__—_

The Baron’s Son and the Monk.

. On the 8th of April, 1538, Dr. Martin. Luther
told the following:

A monk visited a baron who was dying. The
first. thing the monk did was to ask the dying man
how much and what portions of his property he
would give to the cloister. “Sir,” said the monk,
“will you give this to the cloister? Will you give
that to the cloister?”

The poor baron was so near his end that he
could not speak, and therefore every time a question
was asked he only nodded with his head. “There,”
said the monk to the son of the dying man, “you see

that this is the last will of your father. He wants
to give the greater portion of his property to the
cloister.”

“Yes,” said the son. “But now will you please
let me ask a question?” And he approached the bed,
saying, “Father, do you want me to throw this monk
down the doorsteps and into the streets?”

As before, the man nodded. ‘““There,” said the
son to the monk, “you see it is my father’s last will
to have me kick you out of the house.” And in
a moment he had the door opened and the “last will
and testament” was duly administered. The monk
was kicked out, but the cloister received no money.

If all sons were as shrewd as this young baron,
the fine palaces now occupied by monks and nuns
would be less numerous, and the papists would not
be able to build so many expensive churches.

Intheraner.

A Boy’s Argument with a Romish Priest.

An Irish boy asked his priest:
Mary take care of me?”

“Yes, my son, if you are true to the requirements
of the holy Catholic Church, she will take care
of you.”

“Are you sure she will take care of me?”

“Quite sure, if you do as I have commanded you.”

“Will she keep my soul and take me to heaven
when I die?”

“Yes, if you die in the bosom of the Church.”

“You are very Bure, sir?”

“Yes, quite sure.”

“Well, sir, I am not sure, for I read that once
in going from Jerusalem, she lost her own child;
and if she could lose Him, she might lose me. But
Jesus will take care of me. He will not lose me.
He knows His sheep, and He says: “They shall not
perish, neither shall any man Pluck them out of
my hand?”

“Will the Virgin

A Martyr’s Death.

When Leonhard Kayser, on account of his Evan-
gelical preaching, was burned alive in Passau on the
16th of August, 1527, he asked the people to sing
one of Luther’s hymns while he was tied at the
stake. This they did, and when the flames rose
high, he was heard several times to cry, “Jesus,
I am Thine; save me!” And so he died a mee
to une truth in Jesus. ;