The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 6

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. meetings.

6 The Lutheran Pioneer.

of Mr. Wm. Seeberry, the choir rendered a beautiful
selection. It is up to the young folks to encourage
their director in every way. Uncle Bob ceriainly
is glad to listen to the choir, and hopes to enjoy that
pleasure often in the future. But the congregation
and the stranger within our gates enjoy the singing
as much as Uncle Bob. In its singing, the choir
glorifies the Lord and edifies the hearers. 1t is also
mission work, for choir singing frequently induces
the outsider to come in. :

The pastor has again begun regular monthly
These meetings are of inestimable value
to the congregation. Many things of common benefit
that cannot be brought out on the pulpit or pri-
vately can here be discussed at length. The old
minute-book of Mount Zion is to-day the evidence
of its former strong inner congregational life.

Every morning the large catechumen class is
instructed for over an hour by the pastor; and, as
they have told Uncle Bob, they are delighted with
him and the instruction lessons.

When the day has been spent in arduous work,
the Field Secretary, well-nigh worn out from the
day’s work, wends his way to his sleeping quarters,
and at last is at leisure to devote a little time to the
loved ones far away. Thank God if you are more
fortunate! Thank God, after the day’s discourage-
ments there are wife and children with smiles and
kisses, and when the time for family devotion comes,
the Savior and His Word to dispel the gloom that
wants to settle about you.

The schoolrooms in Mount Zion are pretty well
filled with pupils.

The Sunday-school teachers are taking a lively
interest in their classes, visiting children when ab-
sent, and otherwise showing a commendable spirit
in the mission work of Mount Zion.

And last, but not least, the finances have shown
a healthy increase.

Now, old folks and young folks, may the Christ-
child be with you all in the New Year as He has
been in the year now closing. Uncrz Bos.

Brief Items from St. Paul’s Station,
New Orleans, La.

In the regular bimonthly meeting of the local
Luther League, on November 20, the following offi-
cers were elected for the coming year: President,
Teacher Wiley; Vice-President, Miss A. Burthlong;
Recording Secretary, Miss Jessie Hamann; Finan-

cial Seeretary, Mr. P. Robinson; ‘Treasurer, Miss
Julia Raymond; Librarian, Paul Lehmann. ‘The
next lecture by the pastor will take place Monday,
January 22, at Luther College.

On Sunday night, December 3, the pastor read
the following financial report to the congregation:
Collections for November, $7.88; contributions
through monthly envelopes, $6.45; Reformation
enyelope collection, $4.00.

Undoubtedly some will say, “Well, that is noth-
ing to boast about. St. Paul, with its 175 commu-
nicants, ought to do better than that.” And they
are right, St. Paul ought to do much better. The
trouble is, in a few words, the majority of our mem-
bers contribute cither not at all or only sparingly.
The $7.88 for November were contributed by but
sixteen members. ‘The same is true of the $1.00
Reformation collection. Surely, every dne must say,
“These sixteen did very well.” Why cannot the rest,
who as church-members enjoy the same privileges
with these sixteen contributors, do equally as well,
or at least make a contribution once a month, and
show some appreciation of the many benefits be-
stowed upon them by the Word and Sacraments they
hear and use in their church? Let us be mindful
of the word of God: “Upon the first day of the
week let every one of you lay by him in store, as
God hath prospered him,” 1 Cor. 16, 2; and: “God -
loveth a cheerful giver,” 2 Cor. 9, 7.

To increase our contributions, the pastor is
speaking about this important matter to every com-
municant, and is asking for a solemn pledge to give,
with the help of God, a certain amount every month
for the church; and he is glad to state that not a
few members have promised to contribute liberally
and regularly through the monthly envelopes. May
God help all to keep their promises and to give this
matter the serious attention that it deserves!

In the presence of a few relatives, Mr. Honoré
Monton and Miss Lucy Dominique were, on No-
vember 28, united’ in holy wedlock by the pastor.
May God bless them!

It is with no small degree of pleasure and thanks
to God that the pastor can report a large class of
catechumens for this year; 26 boys and girls are
regularly receiving special instruction in Luther's
Small Catechism, and are thus being prepared for
confirmation. Most likely, not all of these will, for
some reason or other, be confirmed this coming Palm

Sunday, but we confidently hope that through His

powerful Word God will make the majority of the
hearts eagerly willing to publicly confess Christ as