The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1916, Page 39

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

39

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growth in the Polynesian Church. In every island
group, without exception, the native Christians show
a wonderful missionary enthusiasm. From island
to island, from group to group, the Gospel has
spread, not so much through the efforts of the
white missionaries as, rather, through the humble,
but no less earnest, efforts of the native Christians.
—Trom the very beginning the Churches of the
South Sea Islands have given of their best man-
hood and womanhood for the noble work of mis-
sions, and those who stayed behind faithfully sup-
ported those who went out with their prayers and
practical assistance. ‘lhough the oldest of these
native Churehes are scarcely a hundred years old,
and though many of them were not founded until
the latter part of the last century, yet they are prac-
tically all self-supporting. They build their own
churches, maintain their own schools, and support
their own pastors and teachers, the only expense
resting on the American and European missionary
societies being the maintenance of the few white
workers and the schools for higher education. But
in addition to supporting their own churches, the
Polynesian Christians contribute annually about
$75,000 for the support of their missions among
their fellow-islanders. F. J. Le.

———_--—>e+>—___——_-

At King Khama’s Capital.

Almost at the ¢enter of South Africa is’ the
_ largest native village of. the subcontinent, a town
of 26,000 inhabitants, called Strowe. Here rules
that grand old octogenarian known as King Khama,
though really only a paramount chief. The jubilee
of his baptism occurred two years since, and he is
perhaps the most distinguished Christian and ruler
of South Africa.

Mr. Hawkins, who visited his capital, says of
him: “He is undoubtedly one of the busiest men
in the world. He spends laborious days in the
Kgotla, — the great open-air meeting-place of the
tribe, — dealing in all sorts of questions affecting
his people, and acting as judge. Nothing concern-
ing the life of the tribe is too minute for his care-

ful attention. He knows all that happens, and
‘rules his people with a firm hand, exercising a
benevolent despotism.”

Perhaps the greatest boon conferred by him
upon his tribesmen is the prohibition of foreign
‘intoxicants, and he also put a stop to the manu-
facture and consumption of native beer. Witch-

craft has been almost suppressed, and education is
encouraged.

He is most regular in his attendance at church
services and other religious meetings. Under his
leadership his people have just completed a mag-
nificent stone church. Mr. Hawkins tells the story
of meetings held for weeks to pray for rain, one of
which he attended. Some cight hundred men and
women were present under the shadow of a great
iree. At another meeting, held at seven o’clock on
Sunday morning, nearly five thousand people were
assembled, and the scene was a most picturesque’
one, the colored head-dresses of the women being
brilliant in the morning sunshine.

Sunday-school Times.

“Ten Points’? of Wise Counsel.

One of the denominational organs of the Colored
Baptist body in the Southern States issued a leaflet
of good counsel addressed particularly to Negroes.
Nevertheless, the advice is not without its appro-
priateness for whites also, as will be seen from the
following “ten points” : —

1) We must get right with God, and make our >
religion practical,—less noise ‘and feeling, and
more quiet, wholesome every-day living. 2) We
must be honest, truthful, and reliable. 3) We must
keep our bodies clean. 4) We must keep our homes
clean. 5) We must keep our yards clean, back and
front. 6) We must stop hanging over the gate and
out of the window. 7%) We must behave ourselves
better on the streets and in public conveyances, and
stop talking so much and so loudly. 8) We must
make the word “Negro” a synonym for honesty,
cleanliness, intelligence, industry, and righteous-
ness, by doing with our might what our hands
find to do. 9) We must be loyal and helpful to
our race, by encouraging all worthy efforts put
forth for its uplift. 10) We must respect our
women, educate our children, and stay out of the
saloon. )

—____-—_~- e-——-—____—__

Why They Don’t Go.

So you are not going to church this morning,
my son?

Ah, yes; I sce. “he music is’not good.”
That’s a pity. That’s what you go to chureh for,
to hear good music.

“The ~¢hurch is so far away; it is too far to

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