The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1916, Page 84

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84

The Lutheran Pioneer.

capacity: of about 150. The altar and pulpit are
so situated that the entire audience, also those
listeners sitting in the schoolroom, may have a full
view of the pastor. The annex, if we may term it
such, is also finished in natural wood, in order that
the perfect harmony of the entire interior, so pleas-
ing to'the eye, may not’ be marred.

Surely, all will agree that success has crowned
our efforts. We have, with the gracious help of

God, succeeded in’ erecting a building that is both

neat in appearance and most serviceable in its ar-
rangement. Small wonder that on dedication day
every heart beat with joy, and every countenance
beamed with gladness and thanksgiving. Oh, how
the old anthem, “Now Thank We All Our God,”
rang out through the darkness of the night in the
second service! And how lustily the choir, directed
by Pastor W. Tervalon, rendered its “Praise Ye the
lord”! There was a certain unmistakable vim and
swing to all of the singing, which only too plainly
betrayed the sentiments within the hearts of the
singers. ‘The undersigned, we dare’ say, voiced

, the cordial feelings of all when he discoursed on
the words, “The Lord hath done great things for
us, whereof we are glad” (Ps. 126, 3).

In conclusion, be it stated that our Mansura
Christians most sincerely and gratefully appreciate
all that their kind benefactors have done for them,
especially during the past six months. They fully
realize that, next to God, they owe greatest thanks
to their old and true friends, whose generous aid
thas made the new church a possibility. Formal
resolutions of thanks to all donors were passed by

“a rising vote of the entire congregation. ‘To prove
their sincerity, those members who had time and

ability donated no small amount of labor toward .

finishing the building, while the congregation
pledged itself to contribute $200 to the building
fund. A goodly portion has already been paid.

. The entire cost of the building, which was
planned by Mr. J. H. Webert, a young Lutheran
of New Orleans, is about $1450.

Ep. H. Somupr.

Corner-Stone Laying of Trinity Chapel,
‘New Orleans, La.

We doubt whether any event was ever more
thoroughly advertised in the ninth ward of the
city of New Orleans than was the corner-stone lay-
ing of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Chapel. Marty
of the good people of that section had informed the

writer that they had never witnessed such a cere-
mony; therefore many hearts were athrill and full
of expectancy, waiting for the “great day.”

The date had been set for Sunday afternoon,
September 10, at four o’clock. ‘The Sunday of the
tenth came, but. gave no promise of a fair day.
the hour for the ceremony approached, the clouds
hung heavy and threatening, and muttering thun-
der was heard in the direction where the chapel
stands. Soon scattered showers evidenced the fact
that the service would, at least to some extent, be
marred. People came slowly; little groups of two
and three alighted from the cars. The rain then
came down in greater quantity, and at last Pastor
Schmidt suggested, “Let us postpone it to next
Sunday.” Soon after the word had been passed,
“Tt is postponed to next Sunday,” there came a
heavy downpour, causing every one to run helter-
skelter, seeking shelter wherever it could be found.
The homes of kindly neighbors afforded many of
us protection till we could go to our homes. We
were disappointed, but not dismayed.

Next Sunday, however, the weather was more
favorable; indeed, the day was ideal — no clouds,
neither warm nor cool, gentle breezes, and genial
sunshine. <A gathering of people, variously esti-
mated at from 200 to 250, was there, among whom
were not a few white persons, Lutherans and non-
Lutherans. Several hymns were sung; in addi-
tion, the children of Trinity School sang the very
fitting hymn, “On Christ, the Solid Rock, I Stand.”
Miss Sophie Raymond, teacher of Redeemer School,
officiated as organist. ‘This open-air singing was
very grand and affecting. Pastor Peay, of Carroll-
ton, read a portion of Holy Scriptures. ‘Then fol-
lowed the sermon by Pastor Schmidt. Holding his
audience spell-bound, Pastor Schmidt, with charac-
teristic force and eloquence, seized the opportunity
to drive home the truths for which the Evangelical
Lutheran Church stands, and to point out the false
doctrines, to which she ‘is opposed. ‘The main
thought, which ran through his message like a

AS

golden thread, was this: ‘The Lutheran Church’

bases her faith and hope, not upon the quicksand
of men’s inventions, but solely upon the merits and
atonement of Jesus Christ, the solid Rock and
Foundation.

After Pastor Schmidt’s address the undersigned
read a brief history of Trinity Congregation, and
mentioned a few articles to be placed in the corner-
stone, namely, a copy of the aforementioned his-
tory, Luther’s Small Catechism, the August num-
ber of the Pionrer, and a few coins of the year

‘