The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1915, Page 27

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

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Are You Doing Your Duty?

‘The following story we heard several years ago
at a missionary meeting in Lafayette, Ind. It was
told by Rev. August Lange in the course of his
missionary address. At the time it made a deep
impression upon us, and after the lapse of years
the impression has not faded. We repeat the story
here, hoping that it may make an equally deep and
lasting impression upon our readers: —

Off the English coast, in the Irish Sea, is
situated the Isle of Man. Approaching this island
from the English coast, the traveler views an ancient
tower, half ruined, ivy-covered. ‘This tower is to the
inhabitants a:-monument both to human treachery
and innocent suffering. A room of this tower was,
many years ago, the scene of the execution of one of
the ablest and most beloved governors of the island.
It was at a time when all England was suffering
under the ravages of a bloody civil war. ‘The
governor was accused of treason against the king
of England, his sovereign, tried, and sentenced to
death. Some influential friends, believing him inno-
cent, successfully interceded for him with the king,
who granted a letter of absolute pardon. The chief
enemy of the governor, however, secured the letter
of pardon and suppressed it. Thus the governor
was executed in spite of the king’s pardon. His
sad lot, his just and liberal administration, while
governor, so endeared him to the hearts of his
people that even to-day his praises are sung, in
popular ballads, by the men and women of the
island while about their daily task. While he is
remembered with love and kindness, his enemy’s
name is spoken with curses and malediction. Cer-
tainly his act was most despicable and treacherous.

But now, my friend, tell me candidly: Are
you entirely guiltless of a similar act? Your
Master and Savior has entrusted to you His letter
of pardon prepared for all sinners, sufficient for
all, intended for all. Have you been sufficiently
active in making this letter of pardon known?
Have you done your full duty in spreading the
Gospel? Oh, may Jesus, who died for you, kindle
your heart with an ever-increasing zeal for the work
of extending His kingdom to the ends of the earth,
—the work of missions.

O Christ, our true and only Light,
Enlighten those who sit in night;
Let those afar now hear Thy voice,
And in Thy fold with us rejoice.

The Good Works of Christians.

In the time of Emperor Constantine a young
man, a heathen, named Pachomius, was drafted into
the army. On a certain night, when he, together
with his company, entered a city, and were exhausted
from the long march, some men voluntarily ran
up to them, brought them refreshments, and cheered
them with encouraging words. The young heathen
was surprised at this kind of treatment, and in-
quired who these generous men were. IIe was
told, “They are the Christians, who do good to all
men, and especially to strangers.” Pachomius felt an
interest in these people, inquired about their re-
ligion, and when he had learned more of them, he
turned to God and prayed in secret: “If ‘Thou wilt
grant me to know this saving religion, and deliver
me from my present distress, I will devote my
entire life to Thy honor and to ‘Thy service.”

Soon after this, Constantine gained a great vic-
tory, and dismissed a part of his army. Pachomius
also received his honorable discharge. He hurried
home to his native village, sought to obtain instruc-
tion in the Christian religion, and, when established
in this faith, was baptized, and labored for Christ
among his people.

Lead such a life that many may be won for
Christ and His Gospel.

Trifles Make for Perfection.

A celebrated sculptor was one day visited by
a friend. He had come to look at a statue on
which the artist was working. He had been there
several times before, but upon this particular -occa-
sion he was much surprised at the great progress
the sculptor had made. Full of astonishment he
cried, “What an extraordinary change you have
made in the statue since I was here last!» What
have you done to it?” “Oh,” replied the artist,
“this part I have somewhat changed, that feature
<I have made a little more prominent, to the lips

I have given a little more expression, and this .

part I have polished.” “But, friend,” cried the
visitor, “the things you claim to have done are all
mere trifles; they surely could not bring about such
a great change!” “Certainly, they are trifles,” said
the artist, “but you want to remember that trifles
go to make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.”
In striving after holiness, do not forget that
trifles, the little things, count for very much.