The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1910, Page 46

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46 The Lutheran Pioneer.

A Funeral in India.

A missionary writing from India says:

“The other day as L was driving through the
city on my way to visit the Hindoo Girls’ School,
I was detained a little by a funeral procession. Some
Hindoo had died; this I knew at once by the diree-
tion they were moving, as they take their dead out
to an island in the river and burn them, while the
Mohammedans take theirs to the other side of the
city and bury them. ‘The body is carried on a rude
bier made of a broad board with cross sticks at
either end for the carriers to lift and carry it by.
Often poor people, who have no money t6 spend,
take off the door of their one-roomed house and use
it to carry their dead. It is not the custom for
women to go outside of their own home to wail after
the bier, but still there are always some women of
low caste in the crowd of people that follow.

“First came the men beating the drums and
blowing on horns, making a deafening noise. One
man walked by tlie side of the bier, waving a bunch
of pea-fowl feathers. Another walked behind; he
had an earthen pot of rice, raisins, and small coins.
Jvery once in a while he scattered a handful among
the crowd of low-caste children, who eagerly picked
them up. Every little while the procession would
come to a standstill, and the women would wail and
tear their hair and beat their breasts. Just as they
reached the riverside we passed on onr way, but I
knew what they would do next. The bier would
be placed on a flat boat and taken out into the
river to the island and burned. ‘This is done by
placing the body on some wood, more wood placed
over it, and oil or melted butter poured over- the
wood; then the nearest relative would set fire to
_ the pile, and thus the body would be consumed to

ashes. ‘The next day the women of the house would
go and gather up the ashes or little bones and put
them away until they could be taken to the river
Ganges. This is their sacred river. It is several
hundred miles from here, but poor people will save
up and starve themselves that they may have money
to get there with the ashes of their dead. In their
heathen blindness they believe that the water of
the river washes away all sin. May God bless the
mission work in this heathen land and bring many
souls to faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son,
which alone cleanses from all sin.”

Mountains of difficulty always appear steeper
at a distance.

Luther College, New Orleans.

Luther College students and professors are look-
ing forward to, and preparing for, the closing ex-
ercises of the present term.
will be made June 22 to 24. ‘There will be two

Final examinations

graduates from the Preparatory Department, a boy

and a girl, a graduate from the Normal Depart- *

ment, Miss Edna ‘Thomas, and one from the 'Cheo-

logical Department, Mr. Calvin P. Thompson. God,
5

in THis merey, has preserved students and professors

of the institution from serious sickness or other ,

misfortune during the past schoolyear, for which
we owe and give Him thanks. Appropriate com-
mencement exercises will close the work of the
year. ‘The night chosen for these public exercises
is Monday, June 27, beginning at 7.30 rp. M.; the
place, the college building, North Derbigny Street,
near Annette. We cordially invite all friends of
Luther College, especially the members of our three
colored Lutheran congregations at New Orleans.
The following program has been arranged for the
occasion :

1. Chorus: “The Revel of the Leaves.” G. A. Veazie.
St. Paul’s Church Choir. *

to

tecitation: “The Blacksmith of Ragenbach.”
Frank Murray.
Sidney Tervalon.
- Piano Duet: “Qui Vive.” . . W. Ganz.
Misses Lillian Walter and Adelina ‘Winn.

a)

4. Essay: “The Benefits of a Lutheran Education.”
i Miss Edna Thomas.

Chas. Gaase.

. Piano Solo: “Holy Hearts.”
Miss Lillian Walter.

6. Select Reading: “Mountains.” . . B.M. Morse.

Miss Sylvina Raymond.

- Latin Recitation: A Fable of Phaedrus.
Mr. Theodore King.

~~!

8. Vocal Solo: “The Choir Celestial.” Arthur Trevelyan.
Miss Hdna Thomas.
9. Valedictory.
Mr. Calvin P. Thompson.

10. Piano Solo: “Valse Caprice.” R. A. Newland.
Miss Sophie Raymond.
11. Address. ;
Rev. E. Krause.
12. President’s Report. .Awarding of Diplomas and Cer-
tificates.

13. College Chorus: “Good Night Song.” Offenbach.
In the name of the faculty and students,

I. WENGER.