The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 27

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

Tupe of Rarotonga.

Far away in the southern part of the world,
in the midst of wide seas, many beautiful little
islands are found. Their shores are lined with
coral rocks; over the valleys the bread-fruit, cocoa-
nut, and palm trees spread their boughs; and
around the high mountains vast numbers of most
beautiful birds are seen flying, with their golden,
green, and purple wings.

These pleasant little spots are called the South
Sea Islands. ‘Che people who live in them were
once all idolaters, but the Word of salvation has
been carried to them, and many are now Christians.

‘Tupe was a chief in an island called Rarotonga.
Before the missionaries went to his land, he was
active in the service of vain idols; but when he
heard the Gospel, he believed it, and threw away
his false gods, and worked hard to build the first
house of the Lord that was raised where he lived.

There were some who did not love 'Tupe because
he left the worship of the idols, and they set fire
to his house when he was asleep.

His house was burned down, but God watched
over him and saved him. ‘The fire caught the
chapel, which was next door to Tupe’s house, and
that was also destroyed.

“Oh, teacher,” he said, “the Book of God is con-
sumed! My house, my property, never regard;
but oh, my book! and oh, the house of God!”

The next morning he called a meeting of the
chiefs. “See,” said he, “the house of God in ruins!
What shall we do?”

“Build it again,” they replied.

“Yes, friends, that very good; when shall we
begin ?”

“To-morrow,” they cheerfully added.

“Teacher,” he said to the missionary, “be not
cast down; let them burn, we will build; we will
tire them out; but, oh, teacher, do not leave this
wicked place!”

At sunrise the next morning Tupe and his
friends weré seen with their axes on their shoulders,
on the way to the mountains, to cut wood to build
another chapel.

Tupe loved :the house of God; but at length he
was too ill to get there. He was visited by the
missionary. “Ah!” he said, “it is the will of God
my seat in His house should be empty.” Here I
sit and hear the people sing; and oh! I wish I
would be there. I give myself to prayer. God is
with me; He will not forsake me.”

i

At another time he said, “Two portions of the
Word of God afford me much delight: that in
Isaiah: “Thine eyes shall see the King in His
beauty; they shall behold the land that is very
far off; and the words of the Apostle Paul: ‘Hay-
ing a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which
is far better.’ I have no dread of death. Christ
is my refuge.”

Then, in a little time, he added, “Salvation is
all of grace, through the blood of Christ.”

“In our Father’s house we shall meet again,”
said his teacher.

“Yes, we shall meet in glory to be forever with
Christ. I long to be with Him.”

Again the missionary went to see him.
is it with your soul ?”

“All is well.”

“Do you find your Savior your support in
death ?”

“We is.”

“Ts the pathway clear?”

“Yes, the way is clear. I have no fear. Christ
is mine. I desire to see Him,°and be with Him.
[ go, you remain. I am going to God. I have
done with the world; we have long been com-
panions, now we part. It is painful, but the Lord’s
will be done.”

Some water was given him to drink, when he
said, “I shall soon drink of the water of life.”

Let the account of Tupe’s life and happy death
lead us to love the Gospel more, and increase our
zeal in sending it to the heathen.

Tattle Missionary.

“How

How to Bear Losses.

Losses, says Mission Link, will be best borne in
the spirit of the late Pastor Harms of Hermanns-
burg, Germany. This eminent German Lutheran
pastor built a large Mission Seminary at Hermanns-
burg, organized his church into a missionary society,
and supported missionaries in Africa, Asia, America,
and Australia. ‘To facilitate his work of foreign
missions, especially in Africa, he built a missionary
ship, called Candace after the Queen of Ethiopia
mentioned in Acts 8, 27. Report came at one time
that his ship was wrecked. One of his parishioners,
hearing this, came to Pastor Harms, expressing
great concern for the disaster, and asked, “What
shall we do now?” “Repent,” at once replied the
man of faith, “confess our sins to God, and build
another ship.”