The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1913, Page 54

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-his Lord unto death.

54

The Lutheran Pioneer.

ooo

are: John and Margaret Chase, both of whom have
been members of our Sunday-school since its or-
ganization, and Mr. Alexander Doswell. May God,
who has begun the good work in these young people,
continue it until the day of His coming.

Death entered our field in The Bronx on
May 9th and took Leafley Ragsdale, a girl of four-
teen years, who in her last days received instrue-
tions in_the essential parts of the Christian religion,
and upon confessing these to be her faith, received
Holy Baptism. She was a sister of the two who
are to be confirmed at a later date, and it was her
ambition to also be among the first-fruits which
should spring up from the seed of God’s Word sown
in that community. She did become one of the
first-fruits, but not in the way we all expected six
months ago. “My ways are not your ways,” says
our Lord. Let us at all times submit ourselves to
the ways of Him who worketh to ete best for all
His children.

On Sunday, May 11, a reunion service was held
for all those confirmed during the two years of
the congregation’s existence. ‘The roll was called,
showing that 17 had thus been taken into the
church. Five failed to answer to their names, most
of whom were absent on account of illness. ‘The
choir, which is improving greatly, rendered effective
service.

May God, our dear Lord, continue His blessing
in our midst to the glory of His name and the sal-
vation of many souls. W. O. H.

Confirmation of a Blind Deaf- Mute.

On the 27th of April an unusual service took
place in Trinity Lutheran Church of Minneapolis.
In the afternoon of that day a blind deaf-mute re-
newed his baptismal vow and swore allegiance to
His name is John Lauby. He
was born a deaf-mute, and when he was sixteen
years of age, he also lost his eyesight in an accident.
In his trials and afflictions the Word of God was,
and still is, his staff and rod. He is now thirty-five
years of age, and during all these years he diligently
read the Word of God, parts of which he purchased
in the Moon Embossed Type. When he came to
Minneapolis, he eagerly desired to be instructed and
confirmed, which our missionary to the deaf was
only too glad to do. Since Luther’s Catechism can
be obtained only in the American Braille he also
set to work to learn this type, and soon he mastered

it. Joyfully he now: studied and memorized the
Catechism and quite a number of proof-texts. In;
deed, an eager and diligent student he was!

As stated above, he was confirmed on the 27th
of April. ~ Cheerfully he answered all questions,
which he understood by placing his left hand upon
the right hand of our missionary. By his answers
he clearly showed that he is able to examine him-
self before approaching the Lord’s 'lable. May
God now keep him steadfast in the true faith unto
everlasting life!

He is a lover of God’s Word. When visiting
him, one often finds him eagerly reading either his
Catechism or the Bible. He also is a faithful at-
tendant at our services, where his sister or sister-
in-law, both of whom are also deaf, take his hand
and then copy the signs of the missionary while he
preaches, and so our deaf-blind friend readily under-
stands the sermon.

On the 18th of May a deaf-mute was publicly
confirmed in Immanuel Lutheran Chureh of Min-
neapolis. On the first of June two deaf of St. Paul ©
renewed their baptismal vow and promised faith-
fulness to the Lord until death. May our good
Lord continue to bless our dear mission among the
deaf for Christ’s sake! J.T. 8.

Ey

God Knows Best.

“T need oil,” said an ancient monk. So he
planted him an olive sapling.

“Lord,” he prayed, “it needs rain that the tender
roots may drink and swell. Send gentle showers.”
And the Lord sent a gentle shower.

“Lord,” prayed the monk, “my tree needs sun.
Send sun, I pray Thee.” And the sun shone, gild-
8 the dripping clouds.

“Now frost, my Lord, to strengthen its tissues.”
cried the monk. And behold! the jiene tree stood
sparkling with frost.

But in the evening it died.

Then the sad monk sought the cell of a brother
monk, and told his strange experience.

“T, too, have planted a little tree,” the other
monk said; “and see, it thrives well. But I en-
trusted my little tree to its Maker. He who made
it knows better what it needs than a man like me.
I laid no condition; I fixed no ways or means.
‘Lord, send it what it needs,’ I prayed; ‘storm or
sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. Thou hast made it,
and Thou dost know.’ ”