The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 5

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 5

Our Guide.

Jesus! be our Guide

As through life we glide;
Faithfully in our behavior

May we follow Thee, dear Savior!
Lead us by Thy hand

Through to Fatherland!

——

A Collection in Africa.

The Rev. George S. Stewart, a missionary sta-
tioned at Emgwali, Cape Colony, Africa, shows the
unique methods of the Kaflirs in expressing their
thankfulness : —

I left Emgwali with one of my native elders
about nine in the morning. After driving for two
hours, we came to a farmhouse, where we left the
horses, and set off for a twelve-mile walk to the
new church. By three o’clock we were at the place
and got to work at once. The people trooped into
the church, about 250 of them —and the church
is built for 150! They sat on the seats and on the
desks, —for the church is also a school, — and
under the desks, and under the table, and on one
another: in European clothes and in red blankets.
But they all got in somehow.

Then there was a prayer and reading, and after
that I told the people what the church had cost,
and said a little about the blessings. of the Gospel.
No sooner did I sit down than an old man jumped
up and cried out, in Kaffir, of course, “Missionary,
I want to thank God for His good work here.
I thank Him with five dollars,” and down went his

sift on the table. Lmmediately another cried out,
“T thank God with ten shillings,’ and down went
his money. ‘Then, one after another, men, women,
and children, Christian and heathen, brought their
gifts, some making quite long speeches, some put-
ting down their money without a word. Some few
gave gold, but most of them could not do that.

Then one shouted, “I’ll open the cattle-fold and
drive out an ox for thanks to God.” Another at
once took him up, “What kind of ox?” “It is
a young ox.” “Oh, then, I'll do more; I'll open
and drive out a full-sized ox.” “Yes,” the first man
answered, “ves, brother, but I'll drive out a goat
along with the ox.” “All right,” said the second,
“then I'll drive out a fat sheep with my ox.” So
these two ended, having given cattle worth about
$70.00.

—o——___-——_

Letter from New Orleans.

Dean Pronerr: —

November has come and gone, and our Field

Secretary closes his first month’s activity with it.
The vestry (8X8) is his study and workshop. With
desk, washstand, table, and stove occupying their
places, there is little of elbow-room. No chance, on
cold days at least, to study the sermon a-walking,
which would be a little variety from the sit-down
grind.
_ In his cramped quarters there are no helpmect
and children to cheer him up, for they are far away
in Cincinnati. But the Lord is with him to comfort
him. It’s a busy pen a-writing that Uncle Bob’has
seen; for page after page has slipped away from
under his busy pen, either for the next sermon or
the next mail.

Here and there Uncle Bob slips over for a quict
chat or pulf, but the occupant has left no evidence
of himself except his faithful corn-cob. He is mak-
ing pastoral visits. Ever and anon an old-timer is
found, and the Field Secretary gets busy, and his
lost sheep is seen at the next service.. Mount Zion
is experiencing a revival. Pastor Bakke understands
mission work. He knows how to stir up the folks,
and these, in turn, are responding well to his efforts.

The congregational services and meetings are
growing in attendance. Uncle Bob is proud to sce

_the children responding in goodly numbers to the

pastor's invitation. Come on, boys and girls, do the
singing! Young voices are music to old Uncle Bob.

For the first time in years, Mount Zion can boast
ofachoir. Thanksgiving Day, under the leadership