The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1917, Page 42

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42

The Lutheran Pioneer.

Pioneer Missionary Work in Alabama.

It is probably about a year and a half ago that
the President of our Colored Mission Board reccived
a letter from Miss Rosa J. Young in the southern
part of Alabama in which she described the great
necd of the Colored people in her neighborhood, and
made a most touching appeal that our Church take
up work among her people in the Black Belt of
Alabama. Investigation of the field described by
Miss Young induced our Board to take up the work
at once, and God has most bountifully bestowed Tis
blessings upon the labors of our missionaries.

Miss Rosa J. Young.

A few weeks ago the editor of the Pronrer re-
ceived the following letter from Miss Young in
which she speaks of her work. We are sure that
the letter will interest our readers. :

Dear Eprror: — :

Please grant me space in your widely read paper
to speak of our work. Having been requested by
some of our friends to write them about our success,
I thought this would be the best way to reach all
that may be interested in our work. —

Our school at Rosebud, Ala., closed last term on
May 29, 1916. On the first of June I received
a letter from Superintendent N. J. Bakke to go at
once to Vredenburgh and take charge of a little
‘Sunday-schéol that the young McCants’ girls had

opened. After reading the letter, I began to pack
my things and prayed the Lord in the mean time
to bless the undertaking. I left the next day and
arrived at -Vredenburgh late in the afternoon.
I had to walk and inquire my way, as I had not
been there before. After a hot, tired, long, and
fearful journey, I arrived at the McCants’ home.
The journey was fearful because I was alone and
knew no one.

The first Sunday I met the people of the Sedan
settlement in an old log hut. It was so hot in
there that we had to pull off some of the ceiling.
After speaking to the people for an hour in the
interest of our Colored Mission, I organized St. An-
drew’s Hy. Luth. Sunday-school with 20 pupils. On
Monday I opened St. Andrew’s Day-school with
8 pupils. I remained in that field nearly nine
months and boarded with the McCants. ‘They did
all they could to make it pleasant for me, and I en-
joyed my stay. Yet I met with many discourage-
ments and disappointments. But, thank the Lord,
out of this Sunday-school grew St. Andrew’s Mis-
sion Chureh, which now has quite a number of
members.

While I was at Vredenburgh, Mr. J. S. Mont-
gomery, a rural*schoolteacher, visited our Sunday-
school. Tle sat quietly and listened attentively to
everything. The children recited the first two Chief

Parts of the Small Catechism, and the writer then _

explained and catechized the children on the lesson.
Mr. Montgomery was much impressed, and became
convinced that the Lutheran Church was a true
Church. He had a long talk with the writer, and
invited her to visit his community, Buena Vista,
Ala. This we did later. On the third Sunday in
August last we set out for Montgomery’s place. We
went in a one-mule wagon, two other women and
the writer. No man was with us. We had to go
in the wagon because we couldn’t get a buggy. Over -
the rough roads and through the hot sun we went,
and at last arrived in Buena Vista. But I did not
get a chance to speak to the people on that day,
because a Baptist preacher was closing what he
called his “big meeting.” I stood around, thinking
what it would be best to do. Montgomery suggested
that I stay over till the next day and speak to the
people on Monday night. I agreed, and the one-
mule wagon started back without me. I felt lone-
some to see my two companions go, because I was
among strangers, and did not know just how I was
going to fare. But, thank God, I had fallen among
good people. On Monday night I was given the