The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1917, Sheet 48

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

46.

The Lutheran onsen

{+ Pastor Gustav Harders. +

The Rey. J. G. Harders, the superintendent of
the Wisconsin Synod’s Indian Mission; died at
Globe, Ariz., on the 13th of April. He attained
an age of 53 years and 4 months. The deceased
was a native of Germany and was born at Kiel,
December 18, 1863. His elementary and, after-
ward, his classical training, he received in the city
of his birth, and when he left his: home, it was to
fill an assistant professor’s position at a Riga school
for boys. ‘Three years later he took charge of an in-
stitution of the same kind at Libau, where he re-
mained two years, up to the time of his departure
for America. He received his theological training
at the Theological Seminary in Milwaukee. Tor
eighteen years he was pastor of a church in Mil-
waukee.

In 1907, he was asked to take charge of the Wis-
consin Synod’s Indian Mission in Arizona. His
love for this peculiar line of work, coupled with
his failing health, which seemed to demand
a change of climate, were chiefly instrumental
among the factors which moved him to accept the
call to a, new field of labor. He settled at Globe,
Ariz., and took up the work of his new position
with the zeal and devotion peculiar to him. It was
granted him to work ten years in the new field be-
fore his strength was utterly exhausted. ‘Three
weeks before his end he suffered a general collapse;
the complete rest from all work, which his phy-
sicians prescribed, was not able to stem the tide of
his. ebbing strength. He took to his bed, and only
by the help of his sons was he able to exchange it
for his chair, He had just been helped back to bed
on the morning of April 13th when the end came;
a few deep breaths, and the soul departed to its rest.

Soon after his entry into the ministry Pastor
Harders was joined in marriage to Miss Isabella
Sehmidt. Of eight children born to them seven

_are living. The second daughter, Hilda, formerly
conducted the mission-school at Globe, and even
now is devoting her time and care to this cause;
hers is the task of supplying the Indian children
with their noonday meal. ‘Hans, the oldest son,
now twenty-four years old, has almost completed
his training at the military school. in Phoenix;
when he has passed his examination, he is to serve
his country as an officer in the army. The declara-
tion of war and the press reports of the war news
are said to have contributed not a little to the final
collapse of the departed. The country of his birth

was still very dear to him, and the thought that his
oldest son was soon to draw his sword against it,
and perhaps stand in battle against his own kin
who are serving on the other side, some in the navy,
some on the western battle front, filled his soul with
grief and horror. It was partly out of considera-
tion for his health that he had accepted the call to
the Arizona mission; for at least five years, how-
ever, it was plain to those about him that his
strength was not equal to the strain to which the
demands of his work subjected him. His zeal and
his power of will often stood him in the stead of
real strength in the trials and hardships of his posi-
tion. His great love for his work and a passionate
devotion to the cause he was serving moved him to
put aside all personal considerations, to subject him-
self and his own uncomplainingly to many priva-
tions, and to try to bear alone a burden which was
entirely beyond his strength.

In compliance with a wish he had expressed,
his burial took place at Globe.

"Northwestern Lutheran.

—> 0

Items of Interest from the Colored
Mission Field.

ALABAMA. — Rev, Hd. Schmidt has left New
Orleans for a few weeks to look over the Alabama
field. While there, he will, by authority of the
Board, examine Teacher Carter, who has made ap-
plication to enter the ministry. On May 20th he
will preach at the dedication of the new chapel at
Oak Hill. — Field Secretary Drewes is also in Ala-
bama at the time of this writing. During his trip
he will visit all the stations and also confer with
Superintendent Bakke of the Alabama field on mat-
ters of importance pertaining to the expansion of
the work. — We learn that Superintendent Bakke
has had some trouble of late, because he was sus-
pected of being a German spy. From what we
learn, no bodily harm was done him, though we
hear that some shots were fired by way of intimi-
dation and several incendiary threats were made.
Superintendent Bakke appealed to the county
authorities for protection. The better class of
whites are with Superintendent° Bakke, and it is
probable that the whole matter is the work of some
jealous enemies of our work who are hoping to

hindér the cause in this way. — Missionary Lynn ©

is going to get his parsonage, and will not have to
stay in his “palace” much longer. A friend of

}