The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1909, Page 94

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94

he Lutheran Pioneer.

The day came nearer and nearer which is called
by our Wakamba children “the great day of the
birth of Jesus “Christ.” When this great day
dawned, I went with the boys to the bush to get
a Christmas tree. That was not an easy matter.
We felled three, but they were too large to be
carried by the boys. At last we found near the
station a nice little tree, which the boys carried
home, singing all the way.

We decorated the tree in the chapel with many
candles, paper roses, and silver tinsel, and, what
pleased the dusky boys most, with ornaments made
of sugar by my good wife. Everything was ready
when the sun set behind the mountains. As soon
as the candles were lighted, the boarding school
children entered, singing merrily in their native
language: “O thou blessed, O thou joyful, mercy-
bringing Christmas-time!” I then spoke to them
of the heavenly Father’s great gift of love to men
and of the glad tidings brought by the angels.
Then they sang again in their native language:
“Silent night, holy night.” Friends had sent a
large Christmas box which contained many gifts
for our children: small looking-glasses, paper,
penholders, lead pencils, slate pencils, slates, thim-
bles,. spools of thread, combs, brushes, pocket-
knives, dresses, and other things. My good wife
had baked a loaf of sweetened bread for every one.
Underneath the gifts were lying the Sunday
clothes made in Wakamba fashion, with many
colored stripes. Our native helper distributed a
load of dates and another one of rice. On the
following day each child got a measure of salt, an
article highly prized in East Africa.

You ought to have seen the boys carry all their
treasures to the boarding house, where they stored
them. When all was quiet again, we sang another
Christmas hymn and offered prayer.

On Second -Christmas Day the children of the
three outstation schools came in. I catechized
them on the Christmas story. My heart was glad
when I heard them answer so well. ach child
got a dress, two measures of salt, and a handful
of dates. Some thought that they were rewarded
for their industry in school. They were told the
gifts were not rewards for their good reading, but
a reminder of God’s great gift to us—the gift of
His own Son to be our Savior.

Tis only is a true, strong faith when the heart
believes what it cannot see nor comprehend, resting
on the Word alone. — Luther. :

Christ Is Come.

Christ is come to be thy Light
Shining through the darkest night;
He will make thy pilgrim way
Shine unto the perfect day.

Take the message! Let it be

Full of Christmas joy to thee!

Christ is come to be my Friend,
Leading, loving to the end;
Christ is come to be my. King,
Ordering, ruling everything.
Christ is come! enough for me,
Lonely though my pathway be.

Colored Lutheran Mission in St. Louis.

Some time ago the readers of the Lurmeran
PronEEr no doubt observed an article on the new
lease of life taken by the Lutheran Grace Colored
Mission of St. Louis, Mo. It was shown that a new
start was.-attempted to revive the interest of the
colored. people with regard to the spreading of the
Gospel message according to the Lutheran accepta-
tion of this doctrine. Since that time, we are glad
to report, the work has been progressing quite satis-
factorily. A new location for our mission has been
secured, a more centrally located place, so that we
are now conducting this mission right in the heart
of the colored population. On Morgan Street, be-
tween 14th and 15th, on the south side of the street,
the passer-by will observe on the first floor of a
store-room painted on the show window a large
sign telling of the regular services held there every
Sunday morning and evening, besides special meet-
ings every Wednesday evening; also advertising a
religious day school conducted by Rev. Jas. H. Dos-
well. This school was opened in the month of
September. Half a dozen children composed the
total enrollment, whereas to-day the school num-
bers 40 pupils, who rejoice with thanks that they
are permitted to attend a religious day school, and
who exhibit their appreciation by a careful study of
the branches taught them by their ambitious teacher
and pastor. ‘I'he services are being attended by
15 to 20 adults, regular church-goers, who are sin-
cerely grateful to be privileged to attend a Lutheran
church, where they can learn of the will of God
and their duty toward Him in such an exact and
plain manner as they have not heard it before. The
pastor, besides attending to his arduous duties in
the school, spends much of his time in visiting
people that might become interested in this new