The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1912, Page 35

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

Such are the thoughts of heathen regarding
death and the hereafter. But what a great difference
when the light of the Gospel shines into the heathen
darkness, and souls come to know Jesus and the
salvation that is in Him! A Christian colored
woman in West Africa died after a long illness.
Her last words were: “I do not fear death, for
to-day I go to my Lord. I go to glory, where God
will wipe all tears from my cyes. God bless the
missionaries for their kindness in bringing the
Gospel to us!”

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Martyr Missionaries.

The mission field of Erromanga, one of the New
Hebrides Islands, since the tragic death of John
Williams, in 1839, has been the scene of many
martyrdéms. In 1872, the Rev. J. D. Gordon,
while revising the translation of the seventh chapter
of Acts, where the martyrdom of Stephen is re-
corded, fell a martyr for the Gospel’s sake. In the
same year the Rey. Hugh Robertson and his brave
young wife arrived from Nova Scotia. Knowing
well the danger, they deliberately chose Erromanga
as their field of*labor. Since that time the blood
of the martyrs has borne rich fruit. ‘The church
in Erromanga grew wonderfully, the converts them-
selves, as a missionary reported, “doing all in their
power to help on the good work of the mission.”

In memory of the martyr missionaries there is
a tablet in the church at Dillon’s Bay, bearing this
brief record of trials and triumpant deaths:
Sacred to the Memory of Christian Missionaries

who died on this island:
JOHN WILLIAMS,
James Harris,

Killed at Dillon’s Bay by the Natives,
830th November, 1839;
GrorcE N. Gorpon,

Eten C. Gorpvon,

Killed on 20th of May, 1861;
James M’Natr,

Who diced at Dillon’s Bay 16th July,
1870; and
James D. Gorvon,

Killed at Portinia Bay, 7th March, 1872.

They hazarded their lives for the name of the
Lord Jesus. Acts 15, 26.

It is a faithful saying and worthy: of all accep-
tation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
_ gaye sinners. 1 Tim. 1, 15.

God is Ever Good.

See the shining dew-drops
On the flowers strewed,
Proving as they sparkle,
“God is ever good.”

In the morning sunbeams
Lighting up the wood,
Silently proclaiming,
“God is ever good.”

Hear the mountain streamlet
In its solitude,

With its ripple saying,
“God is ever good.”

In the leafy tree-tops
Where no fears intrude
Merry birds are singing,
“God is ever good.”

Bring, my heart, thy tribute,
Songs of gratitude;
All things join to tell us,
“God is ever good.”
L. G.

A Christian Hindu’s Faith.

An old Hindu in India, nearly seventy years
of age, had come to know the folly of worshiping
idols and had been brought to faith in Jesus. On
his dying-bed the missionary asked him if he was
ready for death. He replied, “I am standing be-
fore the door of heaven. With this world. I am
done.”

“But,” said the missionary, “have you no fear
that the Lord Jesus might after all not receive
you? And what then?”

“What?” exclaimed the old Christian, raising
himself up on his couch, “not receive me? Jesus
not receive me? I shall hold Him fast and not
let Him go. If He would want to put me away,
I should cling to His feet and lie before Him; but
I shall never let Him go. I shall say to Him:

Didst Thou not come into the world to seek and

to save me? In whom else could I trust but in
Thee? Where else should J go? Am I not a sin-
ner? And art Thou not the Savior of sinners?
No, my dear Savior, I will not let Thee go; Thou
must saye me!”

Exhausted from the excitement, he sank back
upon his couch, crossed his arms upon his breast,
and once more said, “No; I will never let Him go.”

Such’ is faith! It is a firm clinging to the
Savior as He is presented to us in the Gospel. It
is a firm trusting in the Gospel promises.