The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1915, Page 5

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 5

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they could count fourteen baptized members. ‘The
first Christian kindergarten work done in Kyushu
was begun thirteen years ago in Saga (Mrs. Lip-
pard), and now there are four Lutheran kinder-
gartens in as many towns and cities of that island.
The Mission School at Kumamoto is just four years
old. On a lot of nine acres, admirably located,
have been erected a large administration, or class-
room, building, dormitories for 100 rooming stu-
dents, a gymnasium, large dining hall, with kitchen,
laundry, and bath-room annexes, two professors’
houses, Japanese style, the Science hall, and
infirmary, — eight buildings in all. ‘To-day there
are 400 students in attendance, under the oversight
and tuition of 16 or more professors and teachers ;
among the students are a number who have the
ministry in view. For all this, grounds, buildings,
equipment, and support up to date, the United
Synod has expended seareely $75,000.
thanks, and take courage.”

Let us give

A Lance Girr vo Missions. — Helen Barrett
Montgomery says: “he first legacy received by the
pioneer denominational missionary society was given
by Sallie ‘Thomas. She was a poor woman support-
ing herself as a domestic servant. Her wages never
exceeded the pittance of fifty cents a week. Out of
this sum in a long and industrious life she had man-
aged to save the really remarkable sum of $345.83,
and this she bequeathed at her death to the American
Board. It is to be doubted whether, in all its won-
derful history, the Board has ever received a more
glorious or more blessed legacy.”

TraLtan Prorestant Crurcies in New York
Crry.— In New York city alone there are 25 Italian
Protestant churches. ‘The two Italian churches of
Philadelphia have a combined membership of 600.
The Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists have
each about sixty ordained Italian ministers.

Turning A Superstirious Custom INTO A
Revenur Propucer. — Head-shaving is practiced
by certain idolatrous Hindus .who live about Ma-
dura. Near the ancient temple of Alagarkvil at
the annual festival one sees scores of barbers en-
gaged in shaving heads. * There are old heads, young
heads, babies’ heads, —all being shaved in fulfil-
ment of a vow. ‘Che business is farmed out and done
by contract, each paying a small fee to the Mo-
hammedan who has paid the temple for the privilege.
The ground is covered with thick masses of black
hair, while big bags stand around already filled
with the product of this human shearing.

Seven Cannipan ViLLaces.—In the Congo
region, in West Africa, a few years ago, there were
seven cannibal villages which were continually at
war with each other. Missionaries labored three
years before one convert was made, and this one
convert was a lame man who could not fight, and
who, therefore, was jeered at and despised. But he
had moral courage. He told the story of Jesus to
all who would listen. Now and then a naked can-
nibal fighter would steal into his hut and hear him
tell of the Great Physician. During the next year
thirty-one savages from the warring seven villages
were baptized by the missionaries. At the first
Lord’s Supper one of them, without being prompted,
proposed that the new church should make it a rule
to have every member give one-tenth of his income
to the Lord. The other thirty heartily agreed. The
same converted man next proposed that out of every
ten members one should give his whole time to carry-
ing the Gospel to the country around, and the other
nine would support him. This was accepted gladly
by all, and has been kept up for nearly ten years.
To-day there are four mission stations kept by these
tribes. and over 2,000 have accepted the Christian
faith. — Lutheran Witness.

IxpIaANs 1N THE Unirep States. — There are
323,000 Indians in the United States, exclusive of
Alaska. Of these 296,000 are under the general
supervision of the Federal Indian Service. Of the

77,401 who were questioned as to their religious
affiliations, 69,529 have professed Christianity, or
39 per cent. of the total.

Wirart Sysreaaric Work Witt Do. — In
Rochester, New York, there is a Lutheran congre-
gation of the General Council that can become a
teacher for us all. In 1910, this congregation raised
for all mission purposes the sum of $468. ‘This was
not enough for those who remembered that the worth
of a congregation is reckoned by what it does to
bring the outside world to Christ. So an “every
member” canvass was undertaken for the purpose
of spreading information concerning missions, and
raising funds for them. Result: an offering of
$2784. This was not quite satisfactory yet. ‘There-
fore, in 1913, a hundred and fifteen men acted as
a committee to undertake such an “every member”
canvass. ‘They undertook a whirlwind campaign.
In five hours everyone of the eight hundred commu-
nicants in the congregation had been seen, and the
offering,-when counted, amounted to four thousand
dollars. But this is not all given by that congrega-