The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1916, Page 4

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4 : The Lutheran Pioneer.

A year and a half ago ten were called for; to-day
the number needed has increased to seventeen,
thanks to God’s blessing and the faithful labors
of our missionaries in the field! How deplorable
it would be if our Mission Board at the next meet-
ing of the Synodical Conference, which is only
seven months off, would have to report that these
chapels were not yet built! Could we in any way
justify our delinquency ? —

From Carrollton, La., comes the news that the
work of our missionaries is much hindered since
the storm, owing to the fact that the old dancing-
hall, which had served them as church and school,
can no longer be used. ‘This state of affairs makes
a chapel here an immediate necessity, if the good
work done in the past is not to be undone. From
other parts of the field come similar reports of
threatened losses because of the lack of proper
buildings.

Surely, brethren, to prevent the breaking down
of our faithful laborers, as well as to garner the
harvest of souls they are gathering in the field, we
ought to arouse ourselves, and earnestly set to work
at once to provide the means for building the seven-
teen chapels so sorely needed, and so earnestly and
insistently called for. F. J. L.

Memorial to the Late Rev. H. D. Kent.

On the 18th day of November, 1915, there de-
parted from this life one of our brethren and co-
workers in the Lord, the Rev. H. D. Kent, of Mount
Pleasant, N. C. The funeral services were held on
Sunday, the 14th, in Mount Calvary Church of the
above-named place. The Rev. John Alston, pastor
loci, officiated, and chose as his text Matt. 25, 21,
from which he showed how the good and faithful
servant is the recipient of the great Master’s com-
mendations and also of His gracious bounty. Prof.
J. Ph. Schmidt, of Greensboro, also spoke words
of comfort and admonition to the bereaved family
and friends, taking as his text Rom. 14, ?—9.
Field Secretary Bakke spoke on Luke 12, 40.

In spite of the bad weather the funeral service
was attended by a large number of friends of the
deceased. Most of the missionaries from this field
were also in attendance. Many of those present
had come many miles through the rain, mud, and
cold to pay their last respects to the deceased servant
of the Lord, and to offer their sympathy to the

“sorrowing family. The great number of floral de-

signs which graced the casket of our beloved brother
were eloquent tokens of friendship. -
Though we all bow unfalteringly and willingly

to the will of God and humbly say, “Thy will be -

done,” we nevertheless feel a peculiar pang of sor-
row at the seemingly untimely death of our brother.
Young as he was, and having entered the ministry
only eighteen months ago, we now see him stretched
lifeless, clasped by the cold hand of Death. His,
indeed, was a short service. Only about seven
months was he permitied to spend in active minis-
terial work. After graduating in June, 1914, he
was called to Spartanburg, S. C., to take charge
of our new mission there. He went to his work in
September, 1914, but after about two months’ ser-

+ Rev. H. D. Kent. +

vice was obliged to leave on account of his health,
having contracted tuberculosis, during the summer.
However, in February, 1915, he resumed his work
at Spartanburg, where he had won the love and
esteem of the people, and continued his labors till
June, when’he was once more compelled to cease
his work because of sheer lack of strength. THis
last sermon at Spartanburg he delivered while sit-

ting. When we consider his short career as a min- _

ister of the Gospel, and the determined effort. he
made to carry forward the work of his Lord, we
cannot but feel a peculiar sorrow at his loss. We,
howeyer, sorrow not as do others who have no hope,
for we are convinced by the Gospel which he
preached, and the faith which he professed in
Christ, whose messenger of peace he was, that his
soul is safe in the haven of rest. And therefore