The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1914, Page 51

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

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he acquired a few acres of land near the scenes
of his childhood which he tilled together with addi-
tional land rented from his former master. He
became, in course of time, a two-horse farmer. On
Sundays, however, he preached wherever an oppor-
tunity was afforded him, especially during the re-
vival season. He was noted throughout Alamance
County as the best revivalist. Without Samuel Holt
the meeting was a tame affair. But when he
‘warmed up on his subject, which was generally
at the time when the roosters crowed the midnight
hour, he could play upon the emotions of his hearers
to such an extent that they did not know what
they were doing or what he was saying. When
Preacher Holt walked upon the platform and an-
nounced his text, “This is the end of the whole
matter,” or “Ye must be born again,” two favorite
sermons of his, the people knew they were going
to have a good old shouting time, and they had it.

In 1888, he, together with three others who were
known as Lutheran preachers, were ordained to the
holy ministry in the Lutheran Church by pastors
of the North Carolina Synod, which had resolved
to begin a mission among the negroes. Brother Holt
had never learned to master the art of reading, nor
was that a requisite of a preacher in those days.
He himself was of the opinion, which he frequently
expressed, that “book learning makes rascals,” and
he was glad that he had escaped that evil. His
usefulness as a preacher was never great, but that
he and others like him accomplished some good
no one can deny. Some of these illiterates preached
more Gospel, according to the light given them,
than many of the “book-learned” preachers of to-day,
white or black.

After his ordination he continued to minister
to a little flock of relatives and friends in a small
chapel called “Holt’s Chapel,” which it took him
years to build. We helped him to put upon it the
finishing touches. In the revival seasons he con-
ducted revival meetings in his chapel, assisted, as
was customary, by a Methodist. or a Baptist brother.
Except for the money that was in it for the
preachers, — and the money question is by no means
a side issue at revival meetings, — it was labor lost
as to adding members to the- Lutheran fold; for
the converts joined the church of his assistant.
These union services and revivals have always been
detrimental to the Lutheran Church in the South.
Unionism is a sin, and if the white Lutherans had
fought this evil instead of fostering it, the Church
would have beeen-a great deal larger and stronger

than it is now. They are beginning to see the
errors of their ways, and the churches are making
progress. Preacher Holt copied the example of the
white Lutheran pastors of those days and lost.

In 1892, we persuaded the brethren Holt and
Clap to give up preaching and apply themselves to
farming. ‘The former yielded reluctantly. After
a few years, urged, as he said, by popular voice,
he occupied the pulpit again, but not in his own
chapel. The best of the members had moved to
Elon College, where they connected themselves with
that congregation, and his chapel was empty. Oc-
casionally he himself attended the services at Elon,
riding on a mule that was-old and rheumatic like
his master. During the last years old age — he was.
over eighty years old—and the infirmities of the
flesh confined him to his home.

With the demise of Brother Holt another colored
gentleman and preacher of the old school is gone.
Of illiterate preachers that used to stir the audiences
with their peculiar, original preaching, prayers, and
songs, few now remain. Though Brother Holt’s
knowledge of Lutheran doctrine and practice was
limited, he had grasped and could impart to others
the doctrine of the true presence of the body and
blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper and was always
ready to give a reason for the hope that was in him.
He led a clean, consistent Christian life and was
held in high esteem by both races. According to
a letter recently received, he died in the Lutheran
faith, trusting in Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
Peace be with his dust!

He is survived by several children and grand-
children. - Samuel Holt, Jr., with his family is an
active and faithful member of Trinity Church at
Elon College. To him our sympathy is extended.

N. J. BAKKE.

Yonkers, N. Y.

In spite of the many difficulties which we had
to face during the severe winter and spring, our
mission work in Yonkers, by the grace of God, is
still in a state of growth. Day after day our church
is finding its place in the hearts of the people.
It is true that the many novelty seekers, who, for
the first year or more, came to service once, just °
to see “that Lutheran mission,” have long since gone
their way to chase another butterfly, but gradually
the number of those is increasing who appreciate
our mission on account of that for which the Lu-